Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)

In reading through the literature related to this debate, I noted that it has been 40 years since the start of the Troubles. It was in October that the first marches occurred and the North's civil rights groups started their actions. The British army then unleashed its power and weapons and the Troubles started. I am delighted that, 40 years later, there is a peaceful, prosperous and shared society in Northern Ireland and a working Northern Executive and that our Government and the Northern Executive work well together. It is a change-about.

The one matter that sticks in my mind more than anything else is the first day of the committee hearings on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. In the committee room downstairs, the victims and relatives of victims gave their first-hand accounts of what occurred on that day and what has occurred in the 35 years since. It has been seven or eight years since those hearings commenced, but I remember distinctly Charlie Bird on the 6 o'clock news on RTE. It was riveting television. The members of the committee, including Deputy Costello, were stunned into silence by the harrowing stories told to us that day. The people in question have remembered those events not just for 35 years, but up to today.

I welcome the Taoiseach's comments yesterday on the Order of Business that he was prepared to accept a motion put to the Dáil and agreed among all party Whips. I hope they will make every effort to agree a wording on the question of collusion between the perpetrators of the violence and the British security forces. It is important that this work be done behind the scenes so that an agreed motion can be developed in the House and put without replaying the entire debate.

Mr. Justice Hamilton began the inquiry, Mr. Justice Barron continued it and four reports have been made on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Dublin bombings, the murder of Seamus Ludlow in Dundalk, Kay's Tavern and many other atrocities. As we went from report to report, it became more fixed in my mind. Initially, I was unsure and I accepted the possibility that there was no collusion, but as reports came one after the other, it became fixed in my mind that there was collusion between British security forces and the perpetrators of some of those dastardly crimes. I would not claim that it was in an overt manner, but it certainly occurred through a nod, a wink and turning a blind eye. Sections of the British establishment took the view that whatever their intended end justified the means. Why was full co-operation not given to Mr. Justice Barron by the Northern Ireland Office when he sought it more than once? This co-operation would have included the files of MI6, MI5 or whoever the British security forces in the Northern Ireland Office comprised. These security forces were not prepared to allow the files to be seen by Mr. Justice Barron, which, in itself, indicated that there was something to hide.

We found that members of the security forces in the North were engaged in these terrorist activities in the Republic. It is inconceivable that the colleagues and superiors of these people were not aware that these men were involved. A blind eye was turned to many of their activities.

I thank the members of the sub-committees, all of which I had the privilege and honour of chairing. Deputy Joe Costello was very much an active participant in all those hearings. A number of people, including Deputy Finian McGrath, were also involved in those hearings, but one person I must name is Senator Jim Walsh, who took a very active role in it.

These inquires would not have happened unless the Taoiseach had at the beginning asked John Wilson to act as the Victims Commissioner. He produced a report and recommended that an inquiry be held into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the other bombings I mentioned. Again, the Taoiseach ensured, and the Government agreed, that first Mr. Justice Hamilton and then Mr. Justice Barron would continue with those inquiries.

The sub-committee of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights received full co-operation from all of the gardaí and the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Taoiseach. In addition, the Taoiseach attended a meeting of the sub-committee and answered questions on the matter.

Mr. Paddy MacEntee SC looked at some matters as part of the first commission of investigation set up under the Commissions of Investigation Act. I know that Deputy Costello was the justice spokesperson at the time. The Commissions of Investigation Act, which was very useful legislation, went through our committee. It was the first time this Act was used and it was used effectively. It is a template for further use in the future, probably in place of tribunals, but that is another day's work.

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