Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I refer again to the report of the Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights in respect of collusion on various atrocities which occurred here during the Troubles of the past 30 years and the involvement of the Northern Ireland Office, the Secretary of State and the British Government without whom these events would not have occurred. I call for a debate on that report. Since I asked previously for a debate, we have had the report of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland, Nuala O'Loan, which clearly identified the collusion that took place in the 1990s and up to the current decade, both in the RUC and the PSNI.

The issue needs to be addressed. There is a point of view that we should move on from these events but if one speaks to the victims of these atrocities, their wounds are as raw as when these terrible atrocities occurred. State terrorism cannot be allowed in any way to go without some form of acknowledgment, apology and redress to the victims involved. I join Senator Leyden in asking if the British Irish Interparliamentary Body might be a forum within which this issue could be explored and some pressure brought to bear on the British to give some modicum of co-operation in this area. I note what the Taoiseach said that until such time as we have the report of Mr. Patrick MacEntee, SC, it would be inopportune to debate the issue, but we should move on it on a number of fronts.

I endorse the call by Senator Hanafin for a debate, not on the issue raised by Senator Mansergh which is outside our jurisdiction, but on the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and its modus operandi. During the past six months I, and I am sure every other Senator, have received reports and complaints from voluntary groups working hard in that area. These groups are finding it difficult simply because the Crisis Pregnancy Agency wishes them to deviate from their ethos. That is unacceptable and I agree fully with Senator Hanafin. We should have a debate on the activities of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency.