Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I congratulate Senator Harris, ably assisted by Senator O'Toole, on tabling this motion. We have had a very interesting debate on this subject. If I cast my mind back to 1969, I was a teenager in second year in secondary school in Ballinafad college, which was a day school and a boarding school run by the SMA Fathers. It had some students from Northern Ireland who were known as refugees because of the Troubles which had started in the North.

The world today is a very small place but at that time, it was as if Northern Ireland was a million miles away, even from County Mayo. It was so far removed from people in County Mayo, which was only a stone's throw from Northern Ireland. I am sure Northern Ireland was at least a million miles away from where Lieutenant de Róiste's was brought up in County Tipperary and, after that, in County Cork. To a large extent, we did not know what was happening in Northern Ireland, nor did our parents, because it was like a different country, even though it was part of our native land.

This is an amazing case and it would seem an injustice was done. That is why I compliment Senator Harris on tabling this motion, with which we agree. He has accepted the Government amendment, which we also accept. I congratulate the Taoiseach, who is acting Minister for Defence, on tabling the amendment.

It would seem Lieutenant de Róiste was a very naive young man. He brought a person who, according to the information we have, was a hardened criminal to Clancy Barracks. It was a funny place for the Army to have an auction if it was not going to scrutinise the people who went to it, in particular if it knew a hardened criminal was going. Obviously, it knew he was there and in the company of Lieutenant de Róiste.

I believe Jim Mansfield bought all the equipment used in the Falklands War and subsequently auctioned all of it on the docks in Liverpool. People from all over the world went to that massive auction. I do not know how the British Government disposed of the equipment to Mr. Mansfield or how he bought it but all those people were not brought into a place like Clancy Barracks, which was described by the Minister of State as the principal ordnance base for the Defence Forces and a highly sensitive defence installation, to view the equipment.

Perhaps the Army was right that Lieutenant de Róiste was a naive young man and this individual, with whom he was hanging around, was able to get information from him and perhaps he was a risk to the security of the State at the time without him knowing it. However, it would seem he was never really told about this.

Were soldiers at that time warned by their supervisors as to the dangers of associating with particular people? Gardaí and members of the Defence Forces at that time were all members of and ran GAA clubs. They ran hurling and football clubs throughout the country and I have no doubt there were people in those clubs who were involved with the IRA, Sinn Féin and so on. There is no doubt gardaí and members of the Defence Forces were mixing with these people.

Senator Harris has made a very compelling case in regard to an injustice done. The Army believes it was right but the Government is making the right decision to carry out a review. As Senator O'Toole said, I hope the person put in charge of the review is truly independent and that this case can be brought to a conclusion.

Senator Kieran Phelan read out the very moving letter written by Lieutenant de Róiste's late mother. As Senator Harris said, Lieutenant de Róiste was retired but he was effectively thrown out of the Army. I imagine there was a stigma attached to that at the time. Getting thrown out of the Garda or the Army was like young girls getting pregnant in that people turned their backs on them and that is what happened in this case.

As Members spoke, I wondered whether Lieutenant de Róiste went to his local Deputy or priest to put his case. At that time, people went to the parish priest or the local curate or to a Deputy. It appears he got legal advice but it would seem the legal advice comprised only one letter. The other two letters concerned his retirement pension, gratuity or whatever he was entitled to.

He was a naive young man who, as a speaker said, got caught up in Irish traditional music and who could have been easily led. Senator Harris said he was a man who would not harm a flea, which I believe. I am delighted Senator Harris is accepting the amendment tabled by the Government and that an independent person will be appointed who will report back. I hope we can get closure to this case.