Eoghan Harris (Independent)

I thank Senators for having spoken well in this debate. I will leave the last word to Mr. de Róiste who cannot speak for himself tonight. Last night, I received a touching e-mail from him in which he stated he had complete confidence that the democratic system would see justice done eventually. He does not have malice or bitterness and seeks only to have his name cleared. In the postscript to Don Mullan's book, he wrote the following:

It is said that the law is what separates us from barbarism and humour separates us from animals. To be mis-labelled a terrorist by the faceless forces of the State and punished in perpetuum is anathema to democracy. No smoke without fire, they said. You must have done something wrong for them to arrest you. That is the kind of thinking that led to Hitler's Germany and the 1890s burning of Bridget Cleary.

Like my father, I joined the army to serve my country. My family could not afford to send me to college and the army provided me with a great career opportunity. I believe that to this day it is considered an honour to be called up. I never had any quarrel with the army. I can assure Óglaigh na hÉireann, the President, and the government that they have nothing to fear from me; nor do they have anything to fear from the truth.

'An error does not have to become a mistake unless we are unwilling to correct it,' US President John F. Kennedy said. I trust that the President, on the advice of the government, will correct this error before it becomes a historic mistake.

That process has started here today.

Amendment put and declared carried.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.