Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Not for the first time, I want to reaffirm my and my party's absolute commitment to addressing the tragic occurrences of the past years and the consequences of the conflict. The critical issue here is the willingness of one of the key protagonists, the British Government, to so do also. There has been a record of failure on its part with minimalist responses to a series of requests by eminent people appointed by the Houses of the Oireachtas to carry out inquiries into the matters in question. It is absolutely unacceptable.

As I said in my opening remarks, there is evidence the British Government has secretly retained vast stores of documents regarding its former imperial presence on the part of past British Governments. The Kenyan situation is one of particular note. It is most likely, given the vast store of documents on the Kenyan situation, that the events of 38 years ago here in this city and my home town of Monaghan have a similar store of documentation and evidence regarding those responsible for carrying out of these atrocities and the raison d'être for their proposition and carrying out. I believe that information is indeed in the hands of the British Government and its surrogate forces in Britain and the North of Ireland.

It is imperative for the sake of truth and justice that they fully comply with the unanimous appeal of this House, one which I and the Minister supported. I urge the Government to readdress this issue with its British counterparts to see the establishment of a full, independent, cross-jurisdictional inquiry. Even in these straitened economic times, I also appeal for a limited restoration of the essential funding to allow Justice for the Forgotten to continue its important work, work it would only be delighted to conclude but only in the context of finality and closure for all of the survivors and bereaved.

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