Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

Has the Taoiseach raised with Prime Minister Blair the disgraceful statement from the Northern Ireland Office in response to the all-party motion unanimously agreed in this House? The Northern Ireland statement claimed the motion was both flawed and misleading. Is the Taoiseach aware this statement was issued before the debate took place in this House? If the Taoiseach has not already done so, will he protest, in the strongest possible terms, to the British Prime Minister? Has the Dáil motion been formally conveyed to the British Prime Minister by letter or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs? If so, can Members have a reply to it?

The Taoiseach has always expressed pessimism regarding the prospects of progress on the issue of collusion. There are powerful forces within the British political and military establishment who are blocking this and many other inquiries. Does the Taoiseach agree they must be faced down on the issue of collusion and if they are not confronted by Prime Minister Blair on this issue, they will continue to block the wider peace process?

As my party leader has asked in the past, will the Taoiseach call a special, specific summit with the British Prime Minister solely devoted to the issue of collusion?

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