Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I support the call made by Senator MacSharry for a review, update and progress report on each of the tribunals. I agree too with his comments on the overrun on costs, which is a scandal. There have been previous requests for this in the House. I am bemused by the reluctance to have a debate and seek such progress reports. Does the Acting Leader have any information in that regard? This House was involved in establishing these tribunals. No one is asking for them to be closed down but they should be conducted and issue reports in as efficient a manner as possible. Since the inception of these tribunals legislation has been enacted to facilitate that.

I also support Senator Tuffy's remarks on promotions for those who participate in community policing. It is essential if people are to commit fully to this work that there be a career path for them to follow.

An independent report was issued on Monday in Belfast and yesterday in Dublin, by an international panel from the Notre Dame law school in Indiana, on collusion by British forces in various murders in Northern Ireland and this jurisdiction during the Troubles. This should be debated here because collusion continues by virtue of the failure of the British authorities and Government, and the Northern Ireland Office, to co-operate with any of the investigations into these matters.