Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I endorse much of Senator Ryan's remarks in respect of the country of origin issue. Like me, he has received much correspondence from the main supporters of this campaign in Ireland, namely, Burma Action Ireland, which is to be commended for highlighting this matter. The issue is of course linked to the junta in Burma, or "Myanmar", as the junta likes to call it. The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, who has responsibility for this area has corresponded with me on this issue. While there is no consensus within the European Union on the matter, there are signs that an initiative is under way to attempt to pull together the disparate forces within the EU that might agree on a country of origin label. It is incumbent on this House, and I welcome Senator Ryan's remarks in this respect, that the Leader of the House should make further inquiries. As this is an important issue for consumers, it might also warrant the Minister coming before the House to clarify the matter.

My main purpose in speaking this morning is to discuss the Shot at Dawn Campaign. I thank Senator Brian Hayes for his kind remarks with regard to my modest contribution in this area. He and I jointly questioned the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the recent British-Irish Interparliamentary Body's plenary session in Edinburgh on the "shot at dawn" question. The Shot at Dawn Campaign in Ireland has been led by Peter Mulvaney, who has been extremely active in this regard. As a result of the initiative taken by Senator Brian Hayes and me in Edinburgh, Lord Dubbs, who is a member of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, raised it in the House of Commons. The view is that the activity on the Irish side has managed to put this issue back on centre stage. In order to maintain this momentum, I ask the Leader of the House to allow time for statements, perhaps for one hour, at a time to be agreed between the Whips, so that we can join with our British colleagues in this respect.

After many years of failed attempts, the Government was given the files on the 27 Irish soldiers who were shot at dawn. All 27 files were forensically examined and it makes for appalling reading. While the files have not been published because the British Government will not allow it, they were leaked to the Sunday Independent in August. I recommend that all Members should read the article in question, which appeared in the issue published on the first Sunday in August and which makes for awful reading. There is a general view that the Government should publish the report and the Department of Foreign Affairs is happy to so do. While I am sorry for speaking at such length, it is important, in the context of the remarks made about reconciliation in the House this morning, that we have an early and urgent debate on this matter.