David Norris (Independent)

As always I listened with interest and respect to my colleague, citizen Mansergh. He is perfectly right that historical files are never destroyed. It would be pretty difficult to destroy them since they have all been tossed into a bonfire or a skip or have been lost. That subject should be addressed, namely, the extraordinary inefficiency in the management of archiving. Within a couple of months, the Garda managed to get rid of fingerprints, photographs of fingerprints and photographs of suspects supplied by the RUC. It was an astonishing performance. We should criticise the Garda and I make no bones about so doing. That is a very minimal level of management and it has nothing whatever to do with DNA or scientific developments.

The most crucial elements of the investigation were dumped and within such a short time of the then Taoiseach, Mr. Liam Cosgrave, assuring the public that no stone would be left unturned and that the people who perpetrated this monstrous act would be brought to justice. Within a couple of months, everything was thrown on a bonfire somewhere. That is not acceptable now, nor was it at that time. We are not talking about the dark ages. There is a real question of very poor management of archive material and the public, and certainly the relatives, deserve to be reassured about that.

I am sure many people, in addition to myself, heard Vincent Browne's radio programme last night on which a very dignified and composed woman spoke. She gave a clear, factual and unemotional account of what happened to her. At first she thought she had been struck by lightning. I had no idea Vincent Browne, who I sometimes criticise, played such a role. He displayed great courage and initiative in trying to go to the assistance of members of the public given the appalling things he confronted. He said he tried to pick up a woman, but she disintegrated. What a horrible thing to deliberately do to another human being. We are entitled to look into this matter. I do not accept we are at the end of it yet. There has been a lack of co-operation in certain instances from the British Government.

In addition to the missing files, there is a missing chapter in the report because for technical, legal reasons, which have been explained to the Taoiseach, a particular line of inquiry about somebody in regard to whom information was made available to the Garda could not be pursued. When that person was called to the inquest, he got legal advice to stop his appearance. There are many unanswered questions.

Will the Leader ask the Government why we have been strongly criticised by the OECD for not fighting corruption? We have apparently signed up to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption but the proper implementation of this convention relies upon the generation of domestic legislation and we have not done this. There are situations where companies here could bribe figures in other parts of the world. I would like to think that we would try to establish good standards.

At the instigation of Pax Christi which is a very admirable organisation, I submitted an item on the Order Paper on the topic of cluster bombs. I will end on a good note by informing the House that the British Government last week introduced legislation for a complete ban on the use of cluster bombs, these filthy things which kill so many children. The British Government has committed itself to destroy the stockpiles of this material, which is to be welcomed. I think further action is required but this is a good day's work on the part of the British Government.