Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I recognise the input of the Taoiseach, who established the original investigations which led to the publication of the Hamilton report, the Barron report, the McEntee report and the Cory report. The various investigative commissions, which did great work to bring us to where we are today, have produced excellent reports. The conclusions in the fourth interim report confirmed what many of us living in Border areas knew for some time — that there was collusion in many of the atrocities. A report published by an Oireachtas sub-committee states that there is "no doubt that collusion between the British security forces and terrorists was behind many if not all of the atrocities that are considered in this report". That is obviously a matter of great concern. The sub-committee states in its report that it dealt with 25 cases, involving 76 murders, and found evidence of collusion with the security forces in 24 of those cases, involving 74 murders. As a representative of a Border area which is obviously close to counties like Armagh, Tyrone and Louth, I am concerned by the sub-committee's findings, particularly in relation to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

I recognise the contribution of Justice for the Forgotten and people like Don Mullen over many years. It is encouraging that so much progress has been made at this stage. However, it is a matter of concern to everyone in the House that the different commissions, the Oireachtas sub-committee and the Oireachtas joint committee, which is also entitled to some praise, were unable to conclude their work because they did not get the co-operation of the authorities in Britain. It is not too late for those authorities to hand over their documents. It would help to bring these investigations to a conclusion, satisfy the people and, above all, bring some comfort to the relatives and friends of the victims.

Some 3,700 people were killed and approximately 40,000 people were injured during the Troubles. While we can look at individual atrocities, it is important that we recognise that every one of the atrocities in which those people were killed or injured was a tragedy for the relatives and friends of the deceased. We must be sensitive to that when we select some cases for further examination. It is important that we recognise that it does not matter which side of the community or the Border those who were killed and injured came from. Recently, there was an appalling atrocity in my constituency. A young man, Paul Quinn, was beaten to death with iron bars and it is alleged that the perpetrators came from County Armagh. This murder has rightly been condemned by all Members of the House and all decent people outside the House. It is important that people who have information about this crime, of whom there must be many, go to the Garda or to the PSNI. This is not just so that the Quinn family can have some closure in this tragic situation but also because it is important, particularly for the people of County Armagh and for those of Ireland, that the perpetrators of such crimes are brought to justice.

We gratefully recognise the establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly and the progress that has been made over the years and we look forward to a much more normal society in which people can live. However, it is important for the victims of the many atrocities that have taken place and for their families, relatives and friends that we bring closure to these cases. This can be achieved, from the point of view of today's discussion on the Barron report, if the British Government comes forward and gives the information it has in its possession.

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