Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Nuair a bhí mé ag labhairt le Príomh-Aire na Breataine, níor shíl mé go raibh sé oiriúnach na hábhair a luaigh an Teachta a thabhairt suas leis mar bhí ag tabhairt bá an náisiúin do phobal na Breataine mar gheall ar na dúnmharuithe a tharla in Aontroim agus i gCraigavon. Bhí mé ag rá leis an Phríomh-Aire go bhfuil sé riachtanach go bhfuil comhoibriú idir na Rialtais chomh láidir agus is féidir go mbeimid in ann na daoine atá ciontach as seo a chur os comhair na cúirte chomh luath agus is féidir.

I did not raise the issue of collusion with the British Prime Minister on the occasion of my discussions with him because I was expressing the sympathy of the Irish people with the families of those who had been murdered. An bhéim a bhí agam sa chomhrá ná go bhfuilimid ag déanamh ár ndícheall chomhoibriú leis na forsaí póilíneachta sa Tuaisceart go mbeimid in ann na daoine a bhí ciontach a chur os comhair na cúirte.

It was important to indicate the strong determination of all democrats in Ireland to ensure that those who were responsible for these atrocious murders would be brought to justice as quickly as possible and to assure him of the full co-operation of our security services in that effort. It was also important to say that the politics should remain in the ascendant and that we continue to pursue political progress as a confirmation to people throughout the island of Ireland that the peace process would not be derailed by such an unrepresentative group of people engaged in criminal activity.

That was the context in which the contact was made and maintained during that period.

Regarding the other matter the Deputy raised, the British criminal justice system has rights of detention that were brought forward by legislative enactment in recent years in the House of Commons. This was mainly because of acts of Islamist terrorism which caused huge loss of life in London, and on another occasion when it was clear that the basic security of the British people was being put at risk by acts of terrorism about which nobody has notice. As the British Government saw it, there was, therefore, a democratic wish to improve legislation. The need to detain those who would be held as suspects for such atrocious crimes was seen to be increased and the British made their decisions in that respect.

It is important to point out that in any democracy the right is available to any accused person to use the independent legal system for the purpose of reviewing the legality of his or her detention. I believe the reforms we have seen in Northern Ireland in both policing and justice are such that one can expect, with confidence, that those issues will be dealt with before the courts in a way consistent with the rule of law.

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