David Norris (Independent)

I agree with Senators Maurice Hayes and White. At the beginning of Senator White's contribution, it seemed from a technical point of view there was a lack of a question. However, she is quite right. I do not approve of the suppression of facts and material. This has happened in the case of the inquiry into the murder of the solicitor, Pat Finucane, and the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. It is simply not good enough. There is a reluctance to face what Lord Denning called the appalling prospect of governmental and official intervention in Ireland. Everything we know about life shows that with appalling prospects, one must face them or they will continue to repeat themselves. If uncomfortable truths are dug up, so much the better because we will not have to face them again. I support the calls for a debate on this issue.

I support the comments made on the Gama workers. I did not intend to speak on this issue. It may have been better if we did not have an Order of Business today. It would have lent more solemnity to the occasion if we simply proceeded to statements on the death of the Pope. However, it is astonishing that the Gama company has the nerve to go to the courts again to seek the suppression of a report.