Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

As we move this week towards Armistice Day, does the Leader agree that this House support a unanimous motion in the name of the leaders and Members of this House on the case being made by the Shot at Dawn Campaign? This is a group of over 300 families in Britain and Ireland campaigning for a pardon from the British Government for their loved ones who were disgracefully executed for alleged military offences in the First World War. The group involves 26 Irish men, Catholics, Protestants, Unionists and Nationalists, from Northern and Southern Ireland.

The Irish Government has recently been supportive of the Shot at Dawn Campaign, giving an excellent dossier to the British Government arguing for pardons and clemency. This would be an act of reconciliation to people on this island and the over 270 people in England, Scotland and Wales who were executed in such an appalling way. We should remember these people who gave their lives in appalling circumstances in the First World War.

I ask the Leader to meet with me and other leaders after the Order of Business to agree a wording that could be put unanimously on the order of the House tomorrow. The campaigners will then know this House fully endorses their work and will ensure that a Labour Government will deliver on this issue. The notion that a Labour Government would not grant a pardon to over 300 people who have been executed in this way is astonishing.

The House should support this campaign and I intend to raise the matter with the Northern Secretary at the next meeting of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body. Senator Mooney also has a question on the matter. On a cross-party basis we should continue to put pressure on the British Government and I ask the support of everybody in the House.

On tomorrow's Order of Business, there is considerable interest from all colleagues to speak on the Ferns debate. Does the Leader agree that this should be an open-ended debate for the next number of weeks? The time tomorrow is approximately two and a half to three hours and there may not be an opportunity for everybody to participate.