Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I seldom disagree with Senator Maurice Hayes. Apart from the great work he has done with regard to North-South relationships, we all have great respect for the energy and wisdom he has brought to bear on these issues. On the other hand, any comments Senator Walsh has made on the Northern issue and his involvement in various committees have always been balanced.

I do not suggest where or when the debate should take place, but there is one issue on which we need to bring to bear our concerns. There is a major difference between collusion by a sovereign government against a friendly government and some act undertaken by a paramilitary group. While we have agreed that a part of the process, as we have discussed it in the past, would have to take account of the need to forgive, one must put oneself in the position of the families who suffered as a result of those terrible bombings, which the report stated involved collusion by Britain. The fact the British Government is a sovereign government changes the scenario completely. For that reason, we should not lump this with other acts of terrorism on this island.