Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

This debate is long overdue. The sub-committee on the Barron report had wished for an early debate after the presentation of its findings. I am glad we now have the opportunity to debate the reports in the House.

I am disappointed that, like in the other House, the leaders have not agreed on an all-party motion to deal specifically with the items contained in the Barron report. As it had not happened in the Lower House, I would have thought the Leaders would have rectified that in the Seanad. Senator Walsh stated to me coming into the Chamber that he has a motion to propose. I do not believe that is the way of doing business. As there is all-party agreement on the reports, there should be an all-party motion to follow up on the findings of them and the investigations of the sub-committee.

The Barron report dealt with the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974, the murder of Seamus Ludlow in 1976 and the bombing of Kay's Tavern in Dundalk. I was a member of the Oireachtas sub-committee of the justice committee that conducted public hearings and compiled the fourth and final report on Mr. Justice Barron's investigations.

It was a humbling and moving experience to hear the testimony of decent, honest people whose relatives were murdered in the most horrific and violent circumstances. Yet, after more than 30 years, the perpetrators have not been brought to justice and the British authorities continue to be found wanting in providing information which could bring much-needed justice and closure for the relatives of the bereaved. The sense of loss, pain, suffering and grieving was felt by each member of the sub-committee. We felt honour-bound to ensure our conclusions were clear and unambiguous based on the evidence which we received.

There is no doubt there was collusion between the British security forces and loyalist terrorists mainly based in the Glenane area in County Armagh. The then British Government at the highest level was aware of the presence of this loyalist gang and the atrocities it committed. It failed to take the necessary action to protect the citizens of Northern Ireland.

It is necessary to put on the record some of the conclusions of the sub-committee. They state:

The sub-committee is left in no doubt that collusion between the British security forces and terrorists was behind many, if not all, of the atrocities that are considered in this report. We are horrified that persons who were employed by the British Administration to preserve peace and to protect people were engaged in the creation of violence and butchering of innocent victims.

The sub-committee believes that, unless the full truth about collusion is established and those involved either admit or are fixed with responsibility, then there cannot be closure for the families.

Nothing could be clearer.

I welcome the establishment of the Historical Inquiries Team to investigate many of these atrocities but without the full co-operation of its political masters, I am not convinced it can bring closure for the grieving families. I was incredulous to hear that after 35 years a visit from the team was the first time that some eye-witnesses to these atrocities were interviewed by the security forces.

The Barron report deals specifically with events which highlighted many vicious attacks on the Catholic community along the Border. However, we must also remember the equally vicious attacks on members of the Protestant community in the same area. The families of those who died are the ones who still suffer the pain and despair so many years after these horrendous events.

More recently there have been the savage murders by members of the IRA of Robert McCartney, Paul Quinn and Joseph Rafferty. We continue to witness the mafia-style omerta in operation in some areas of Northern Ireland. Unless some good people come forward, evil will continue to triumph and families in 2008 will find themselves in a similar position as the families we have spoken about earlier some 30 years on.

We have also seen the re-emergence of the Real and the Continuity IRA which pose a threat to the people and institutions of this State and this island and aim to undermine the position of Sinn Féin. It is believed they are responsible for the recent murder of a young man, Andrew Burns, in Donegal. I urge the Minister to use every means at the State's disposal to crush these evil people whose only aim is to sow seeds of hatred and bigotry in this island and destroy the relative peace we enjoy.

It would be remiss of me if I did not pay tribute to the groups and organisations, especially Justice for the Forgotten. Their members have displayed personal commitment and dedication in their efforts to find justice and closure for many families affected by the atrocities covered by Mr. Justice Barron in his report.

I hope the Taoiseach will instruct his officials to renew contact with officials on the British side and influence the British Prime Minister to release files that may bring justice and closure for the families. All we want is closure to these events. If the Minister had listened to the testimony given by many of those affected to the sub-committee, he would see how much it means to them that justice be done for their relatives who were butchered in horrific ways during that sad period in our country's history. Let us hope these people will get justice and closure for their families.