Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I welcome members of Justice for the Forgotten and their families to the Visitors Gallery.

I welcome the opportunity to speak to this important and timely agreed all-party motion which confirms a motion passed in the House on July 10 2008 which was forwarded to the British Parliament for its consideration. It is a disgrace that the British Parliament and the British Government did not see fit to do anything further on the matter. Their inaction shows serious contempt for a neighbouring parliament. To add insult to injury for the families who lost loved ones in these atrocities, the British monarch is visiting the country at the invitation of the President on the anniversary of the bombings at a time when the British Government is continuing to maintain its silence and refusing to open the files on the investigation of this crime. I have written twice to the British Prime Minister asking him to open the files as Justice for the Forgotten has requested, but he has not even acknowledged receipt of my letters. This is another small indication of a lack of seriousness they place on obtaining the truth in this case. It makes the words of the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, on the publication of the Saville inquiry report ring hollow as he seems to welcome the truth in certain cases only.

Last night the Minister only gave half-hearted support to the call made in the motion. It is important to point out that what gives justification to the cause of some who oppose the visit of the Queen and the peace process is the continued refusal of the British Government to answer the very serious charges made in the Barron report and the lingering scent of collusion and British involvement in the State. Let it be, in Mr. Cameron's own words, that openness and frankness about what happened in the past will make it stronger by doing the right thing now.

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