Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The conclusion of the Smithwick tribunal that unidentified members of An Garda Síochána colluded with the Provisional IRA in the murder of RUC officers Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan is truly shocking and sickening. It represents a terrible betrayal of the thousands of members of An Garda Síochána who down through the years made many sacrifices to protect the citizens of this island, North and South, and who worked extremely hard against the actions of the Provisional IRA and other terrorist groups. It betrays that sacrifice in a profound and disgusting way.

I welcome the apology issued by the Tánaiste on behalf of all of us and the State, as well as the apology issued by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter. Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan were carrying out their professional duties to protect the citizens of this State in co-operation with An Garda Síochána and they were gunned down savagely in the course of doing their duty. Those who gunned them down should be brought to justice. The report should be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, with every opportunity or prospect of further criminal investigation examined. Those in possession of vital information should provide it, as it is clear such information was not fully provided to the tribunal judge. Statements were issued or sent by the IRA to the tribunal, but I invite Members to read them as they provide a very chilling account of the cold and callous manner in which the murders took place. Information that could have been provided by people in the provisional movement was not given.

The publication of the report vindicates the establishment of the inquiry in the first instance, but it also perhaps highlights the need for the other aspects and dimensions of the Weston Park agreement, particularly the inquiry into the Finucane, Hamill and Nelson killings and other events such as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, to be pursued vigorously by our Government with the British Government. Ultimately, the truth wins out, and this conclusion is important for the families and our overall examination of the difficulties on this island.

Will the Tánaiste facilitate a full debate in this House on the tribunal report? Such a debate might avoid the incredible types of statement we have already witnessed this morning on Newstalk from the leader of the Sinn Féin Party, for example. Incredibly, he stated that the two officers displayed a "laissez-faire" disregard for their own security. He stated:

When you have that type of laissez-faire disregard for their own security, by both An Garda Síochána in relation to these two RUC officers, and more importantly by the RUC officers themselves - here they were at the heart of south Armagh in the middle of a very, very severe conflict at that time, and seemed to think that they were immune from attack by the IRA, and tragically as it turned out for them that wasn't the case.

That is the contribution of the leader of Sinn Féin to this debate. It is insulting to the families concerned and it should be withdrawn. Essentially, it almost blames by implication the officers themselves. We should be very clear that this was premeditated murder carried out by so-called republicans and people supported by the Sinn Féin leaders and others, who continue to refuse to accept the reality that this was a premeditated murder. Deputy Adams should apologise to the families on behalf of that so-called republican movement, as this kind of language and Sinn-Féin-speak, to which we are now becoming accustomed, represents their ongoing Widgery approach to whitewashing their past atrocities. We need a full debate in the House to hammer these points home in an unequivocal manner.

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