Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

That is shifting the focus. The focus should be on the fact the Minister, on Second Stage, put a particular spin on the story to the House regarding the purpose of this legislation, and I do not accept it. I believe the Minister was led up the garden path. I have known the Minister since 1997, when he was involved in the Abbeylara committee and so forth, and I have great respect for him. He is a very able lawyer as well as being a Minister. However, somebody has sold him a pup in this regard. He then tried to taint the sincerity of my amendment, which seeks to reduce the term from ten to eight years. I could be wrong about that but I put the amendment forward in good faith. The Minister is trying to spin it as me trying to facilitate a particular individual or small group of individuals. Even if I were, it is a small price to pay for what has taken place in the background.

Senator Mullen correctly pointed out on the first day of debate on this that there is a backdrop to this case which we do not know about and that more will emerge. In moving the amendment I have asked a number of questions. I hope the answers will be factual, not evasive. The Department is in a serious situation. Incidentally, when people talk about who said what to whom, I am entitled to be approached by people on this issue. Nine people have already contacted me about it, some of whom are no longer serving members. At least two of the people who gave me a great deal of information have no axe to grind. They are Army personnel but they can never be appointed as military judges or prosecutors. The plot thickens and the avenue widens.

I rest my case on this amendment. However, I have raised many legitimate questions which should be answered. If the Minister cannot give the answers, somebody in the Department knows a great deal more than they are telling him. I will produce a memorandum, although probably not today. I have seen a copy of it but I am anxious to have it authenticated as a departmental memorandum which not only corroborates but authenticates some of the serious points I have raised.