Dáil debates

Wednesday, 10 October 2007

10:30 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It is now 12 months since the Oireachtas sub-committee made the recommendation of a full debate in both Houses of the Oireachtas on the issue of collusion. The Taoiseach has not responded to the earlier question from Deputy Kenny. Will he be specific on when that debate will be accommodated? I have raised this matter over the summer recess and since then with the Chief Whip, who can confirm that is the case. I believe the matter needs to be accommodated with some urgency.

Having read the MacEntee report, does the Taoiseach hold the view that the Government and Garda response at the time raises very serious questions? I have heard him articulate his concerns on this whole area and I am of the view that gross incompetence is not enough to explain what happened, given the seriousness of the failure to properly investigate and the disappearance and destruction of records pertaining to the tragic events of 17 May 1974. What action does the Taoiseach propose to take in this regard, given that I have heard him articulate on a number of occasions his particular concern in relation to that whole area of the investigation or, more correctly, the failure to properly investigate all that pertained to that issue?

Following the appointment of the new British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has the Taoiseach raised with him the failure of the British Government to properly co-operate with the series of inquiries by Mr. Justice Hamilton, Mr. Justice Barron and Mr. MacEntee? Has the Taoiseach acquainted him with the extent of the failure of the British authorities to properly co-operate with a commission appointed by this Parliament and its failure to co-operate throughout which has not only impeded but stunted the potential of those commissions of inquiry toproperly get to the full detail that must be available?

Has the Taoiseach had the opportunity to raise with Mr. Brown the other pressing issues under the umbrella of collusion, for example, the murder of Pat Finucane, which the Dáil has unanimously agreed warrants a full inquiry?

Having met the family of the late councillor Eddie Fullerton of Buncrana and Donegal councils, has he any intent to initiate a full public inquiry with cross-jurisdictional application into that particular murder?

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