Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I believe that all these people should receive a pardon. I was in tears, when watching "Questions & Answers", to hear Mr. Michael O'Brien set out how he had been treated by the Rosminians. The panel was shocked to hear how he had been treated and of how his family had been broken up. It was shocking.

The Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, recently brought before this House a Bill which provides for expunging of convictions for misdemeanours, thus allowing people to travel to other countries. That Bill should be extended to provide that a pardon be given to all those people who were so badly treated by the State and the organisations concerned.