Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I concur with most of the comments made by other Senators about the Northern peace process. I call on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to publish information available to him to remove any lingering public doubts. The public are cynical and sceptical and we need to remove any such thoughts from their minds. It is very important that we publish the facts and let the public make up their own minds.

I have lost confidence in the Government in regard to the Northern peace process. This dates back to over a year ago when the SDLP was excluded from vital talks by the Taoiseach. The middle ground parties have been squeezed out at the expense of the peace process. A few weeks before Christmas the Taoiseach spoke about releasing the killers of Jerry McCabe and the Minister for Foreign Affairs discussed going into coalition with Sinn Féin. We now discover that major money laundering and other illegal activities are taking place. Surveillance of Members of the Oireachtas is also a most worrying development which concerns all of us in the House. We need to have all the facts put before us so we can make up our minds.

I agree with the call for the setting up of a truth and reconciliation forum. That would be an important step as there is truth on both sides. It is also important to acknowledge that people in MI5 and the secret service saved many lives, Catholic, Nationalist and Unionist. We should recognise the work they have done in advancing the Northern peace process to the stage where it is today. We must look at the full picture.