Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I agree with the Minister that this is a sensitive and harrowing issue for the families and people directly involved. I commend our UN soldiers for their work on many difficult missions.

Truth rests at the core of this issue and we need the truth to come out. In view of the grave accusations concerning the recent Army report on Niemba, will the Minister undertake to personally meet with both survivors, Mr. Tom Kenny and Mr. Joe Fitzpatrick, to take account of their misgivings? Will the Minister consider the merits of appointing an independent person, not associated with the Army, to take evidence from both survivors and consider other vital evidence omitted from the Army report, such as that of the Swedish officers who acted as interpreters for our troops in the Congo? Is the Minister aware that the Army has refused to answer serious questions from the Niemba survivors that have arisen over the accuracy and reliability of this report? Is the Minister aware that both survivors feel their names have not been cleared by the report? Can the Minister confirm he has received a written request from the Taoiseach to further investigate this matter? If so, what does he intend to do to bring this unfortunate affair to a satisfactory conclusion?

Surely the survivors deserve more than an inconclusive report by the Army which appears to be hiding the truth behind the events at Niemba almost 50 years ago. I commend the work carried out by Dr. David O'Donoghue in his book The Irish Army in the Congo 1960-64: The Far Battalions. Much valuable research was carried out and published in this book. Is the Minister aware of the information contained in it?

Does the Minister recognise that Private Kenny and Private Fitzpatrick survived a horrific encounter, showed great courage and acted in the interests of their country? I urge the Minister to meet these two individuals.

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