Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I thought that was very good. It showed leadership and courage. Often there is a temptation for all of us in politics to go with the flow, and see what direction public opinion is going. Indeed, we see an example of that in this House this morning. As politicians, however, we need to have the courage of our convictions, and sometimes rather than following, we need to lead. In fact most times we need to do that. That is why I applaud the contribution of Peter Robinson, MLA, as part of the new maturity that is taking place. In that regard as well, the comments of Prime Minister David Cameron were particularly welcome, given that he is a successor to a previous Tory Prime Minister Edward Heath, who may well have been involved in an element of collusion with the Widgery tribunal. There appears to be some documentation which gives substance to that particular issue. As I said yesterday, as the State challenges people who are attempting to subvert it, I should like to see us extending more of these powers. I welcome the fact the Minister has done this in relation to the enormous challenge to the State and society posed by organised criminal gangs. Also politically we need to move in a direction that is all-embracing and inclusive, and slowly we are doing that.

I appeal to the Minister, at this stage, as I did yesterday to the Taoiseach and Government, to use their good offices to try to bring closure, in particular, for the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, whose sense of injustice is as real today as it was following that atrocity in 1974. This State has failed those people, and that was the conclusion of a joint committee of the Oireachtas in that regard. Now that the British Government has shown itself to be much more open in dealing with these issues in a way that helps the victims of atrocities, this should be pursued. It is necessary not only for the victims, but also to provide the platform and foundations so we might move forward in peace, harmony and co-operation on this island.

I shall conclude by saying to the Minister that I am aware of what he has said, and I support his motion. However, I hope the day will come when there will be no need to continue with these provisions. If we are to achieve that, we must learn the lessons as regards how we have dealt with the whole peace process in Northern Ireland. There has to be engagement with dissidents and their organisations. There is a danger, in treating this specifically as a security issue, that we shall fail to get that engagement, which really is the ultimate solution to our difficulties here.