Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Tuigim sin. However, it is a matter for me to express my opinion without interruption. These are extremely serious issues in respect of which there have been many developments. I also met Senator Pat Leahy during my visit to Washington, particularly as funding from the IFI is of importance to Border counties in this State, including Louth, which I represent. I am unsure of the nature of the supplementary I should pose because all of the matters with which these questions deal are so pressing.

The British Secretary of State recently and unilaterally scrapped the 50-50 representativeness required by the Patten Commission. This was done against the express wishes of some of the parties in the North and is in breach of the British-Irish Agreement. Was the Government consulted in respect of this matter and what is its position with regard to it? Is the Taoiseach in a position to insist that what was done in this instance was unacceptable and demand that the 50-50 requirement be reinstated until agreement is reached on how it should be formally removed? He is aware of how difficult it was to deal with this issue and of how hard everyone was obliged to move from old-style jackboot state policing to the new model of civic-community policing.

I wish to refer to an issue which was continually raised with the former Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, by my colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin and which relates to the unanimous decision reached by the Oireachtas regarding all files and other information relating to collusion which took place in this State, including in respect of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. The current Taoiseach undertook to meet the families of the victims of the Ballymurphy massacre, who, during the past week, took part in a congressional hearing in Washington. I acknowledge his openness and thank him for meeting the families. I request that he ask his officials to meet them as soon as possible.

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