Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The promised debate is not now to take place. The Taoiseach referred earlier in response to questions during Taoiseach's Question Time to the upcoming debate on collusion. We do not have a debate and the word "collusion" is not even in the text of the terms or theme of address as presented on the Order Paper.

As Deputy Costello indicated, we were expecting a motion and without a motion there clearly can be no proposal for action. No actions will arise out of statements presented here and again tomorrow. The great fear of campaigning groups, not just Justice for the Forgotten, although very particularly that group, and all of the other groups as well, was that this issue would not be dealt with. We expected this issue to be substantively addressed and that there would be an outline of proposed steps of action to be taken to which we could all subscribe. This was against the backdrop of a decision already taken unanimously in this Chamber in regard to the murder of Pat Finucane. It is not beyond the ability of all in this House to unite and come to agreement on the steps to be taken to move forward with some speed to see in place the fully transparent, accountable and public inquiry that is necessary into both the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and each of the other atrocities that were visited on innocent civilians here in this State at the hand of loyalist paramilitaries operated and controlled by British state forces. That is what collusion is all about. That is what was promised and that is not what we are seeing here.

My fear, and that of many who I have cited, is that this will become just another milestone along a list of milestones down through the years of campaigning, and that it will bear no fruit. That would be a great calamity. It would in the end of the day be a further insult to the great people who are campaigning on these issues for many years and for whom there is an urgency in their lifetime to move forward to truth and justice on behalf of their loved ones, and indeed some of whom themselves are victims.

I concur with Deputy Costello. These are points that I intended making again strongly in the course of the opportunity to present. I appeal to the Taoiseach, in consultation with the Chief Whip, to revisit this with an immediacy.

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