Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

While I welcome any opportunity to raise the issue of collusion, highlight the predicament of the families and recognise their huge effort in campaigning for justice, information and, above all, truth, I agree with my colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, and members of the Labour Party that it would have been much more constructive to have an agreed motion before the House and to have a debate around it. This motion should have contained some firm direct action as a follow-on to the statements expressed this afternoon and yesterday.

However, these statements have again seen agreement across the parties in the Oireachtas that the British Government has failed to co-operate with inquiries established by the Oireachtas into attacks in this State, including mass murder, in which there is overwhelming evidence of direct or indirect involvement by British state forces. Two years ago, we unanimously called on the British Government to establish an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. This was no small matter. This was the democratic Parliament of this State speaking with one voice and demanding that the British Government establish an inquiry into one of the most serious crimes any Government can commit, namely, the murder of a person under its jurisdiction by its forces. The British Government, first under Tony Blair and now under Gordon Brown, has refused the call of this Oireachtas and refused to establish this inquiry.

We now need to know what efforts have been made by the Government led by the Taoiseach to press this issue with the British Government. We also need to know what real action the Taoiseach has taken in an effort to prise information about collusion from the British Government. He has repeatedly claimed that he raises these matters every time he meets the British Prime Minister but is that it? For example, are all British MPs even aware that the Dáil and the Seanad have made this call? Have copies of all relevant reports, including those by Mr. Justice Barron, been sent to the British Parliament and have MPs been informed of their existence? Have there been meetings with party leaders and have key parliamentarians been lobbied?

The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Tom Kitt, stated earlier that these statements give us the opportunity to consider what further action can be taken. It is a pity the Government did not convene a meeting of all parties before these statements and agree a motion proposing such action. We could then have had a real debate and a productive outcome. The Government can make amends for mishandling this matter by meeting with parties in the coming days and agreeing a motion to be put before the Seanad, which is also due to have a debate on collusion. That motion can then return here and we can proceed with a plan of action. The survivors and relatives of the victims of collusion deserve a serious and concerted approach that goes beyond simply stating our views.

One case where we cannot simply blame the British Government for not enabling us to achieve significant closure is the case of Seamus Ludlow, who was murdered in County Louth. Much of the missing information relating to that case lies in Garda files in this State. The Taoiseach could order a full public inquiry this afternoon. Why does he not do so? Perhaps this is where he should start his quest for assistance for the families of the bereaved.

Reference has been made to the Consultative Group on the Past. I take this opportunity to put on record my position and that of my party on the work of that body and the various proposals which have been flagged. The British Government cannot credibly establish a mechanism for dealing with the past which is capable of commanding sufficient truth or credibility, whatever the virtues or good intentions of those involved in a consultative group which it has appointed. The British Government's handling of this issue has consistently resulted in adding to the pain and suffering of this large constituency of people. This inevitably results from the fact that the British Government is not neutral. This was most clearly evidenced in the Bloomfield report. This report gave "special consideration" to members of the British security agencies who lost their lives during the conflict and devoted a mere two paragraphs to the people killed by these same agencies.

Some families have spent decades in pursuit of the truth, coming up against one closed door after another. In only a few instances have inquiries been conceded. Even in these few cases, new obstacles and delays are still a fact of life. In the vast majority of cases, however, those who have lost loved ones have been pointedly denied the truth. In fact, every effort imaginable has been made to hide and obscure what happened to the many hundreds of people killed directly by British state forces in collusion with their proxies in the Unionist paramilitary organisations.

This cannot be allowed to continue. Political posturing and self-interest cannot be an obstacle to moving the situation forward. All of us have responsibility to create the circumstances in which the needs of all victims are met. Sinn Féin is committed to finding a way forward. We accept that dealing with the legacy issues is an onerous task. However, it is of crucial importance that the past is dealt with and a mechanism found which treats all victims equally and allows families of victims an avenue of acknowledgement, apology and, above all, truth. We are keen to assist in such a process.

A firm motion proposing a series of actions, following a debate in this House, would have been more efficacious in achieving what the families most desire. When we look across the incidents in this State, at Kay's Tavern, Dublin and Monaghan, I have no doubt the families of the victims of these atrocities are as hurt today as they were on the day of the incidents. Each of us must do what we can to bring truth to these people. Reference was made to working with the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body in trying to achieve progress in this matter. There are many agencies that could contribute substantially to achieve truth, not just in the case of collusion but beyond.

First, there is work to be done in this House. We must deal with the incidents that occurred in this State. It is crucial and I hope the Government will change its mind, return after a motion in the Seanad and put the motion to this House for further debate. That is a mechanism to move this forward and to give the families most affected by these atrocities in this State an opportunity to get truth and closure.

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