Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

In his response earlier the Taoiseach stated that he raised with the British Prime Minister the issue of the O'Loan report and the issues spilling therefrom in respect of collusion. Can he advise us what he means by "raised"? Can he advise the House whether, for example, he raised the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, which was published before Christmas? Did he raise the fact that this body deemed the British to be guilty of international terrorism in Ireland? Has he pressed the British Government and the Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, on this issue? I use the word "press" as against the word "raise".

Has the Taoiseach taken up the long-repeated proposition that he and the Prime Minister should jointly hold a special summit on this issue, given the gravity and seriousness of these matters, as underscored by Ms Nuala O'Loan's recent report? Mindful that the British Prime Minister will vacate his office shortly, has the Taoiseach pressed him to ensure full co-operation from the British Government regarding the pursuit of truth and justice in respect of all such matters and at the earliest opportunity?

What are the Taoiseach's intentions regarding the proposal I made earlier this week to accommodate a special debate in the House on the issue of collusion in the wake of the O'Loan report? What are his intentions, given that it is now almost a full year since the House unanimously passed a Government motion on the murder of Pat Finucane? We have seen no further progress in respect of the proposal for the establishment of a full public inquiry. Did the British Prime Minister give any further indication of a change of heart or mind in this regard? Can we expect any progress in this matter in the coming period?

Does the Taoiseach accept, despite what others may think, that there is only one clear purpose in respect of the forthcoming election on 7 March? Does he accept its clear and bounded intent is to see the re-establishment of the Assembly, a working Executive, the all-Ireland Ministerial Council and, in institutional terms, all the outworking of the promise of the Good Friday Agreement? Does he accept it is now the DUP's responsibility to state clearly its intent to enter into such a power-sharing arrangement as of 26 March?

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