Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I am glad the report on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings is being published today. We have waited a long time for it and one can only imagine the suffering and grief of the families during the intervening period. The difficulty in not having a debate here is that a vacuum could develop which would be filled with supposition and conjecture. It is important for us to play a role in this regard. On the radio this morning, informed sources said there has been a lack of co-operation by the British Government. The British Government is a sovereign Government on friendly terms with Ireland. If a sovereign Government acted in the manner suggested, it casts a shadow over all our dealings with Britain and every other aspect of co-operation. It is vital that we have an early debate. I suggest it take place next week when we have had an opportunity to study the report. That does not take from the proposal that it should go to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, but in the current climate, a period of three months is too long. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on this report in the immediate future.