Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Contributions are rightly focused on the British Government's decision not to hold a public inquiry, which contravenes an all-party motion passed in these Houses in 2006. I compliment the Taoiseach on holding the line on that and he was supported by our party leader in the Dáil yesterday. I remind those who talk about a lack of balance that the revelation that 85% of loyalist killings of innocent people in Northern Ireland were the direct result of information provided by state forces is chilling. It also raises other issues enunciated by Eamon Mallie, the respected Northern Ireland journalist, during a radio programme on which I appeared with him last night. He said he believes this is only the tip of the iceberg and that it is almost certain there was state collusion in many of the atrocities attributed to one side in Northern Ireland and perhaps across the entire political and religious divide. It raises the question of how much UK collusion there was in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the single greatest tragedy that happened as a result of the troubles on this island.

I call on the Leader to ensure the Government maintains its pressure on the British Government. A coalition spokesman is quoted in today's newspapers as stating, "It is a definite rift between the two countries. We enjoy a close relationship but there are some principles on which we must make a stand and this is one of them". I would not go so far as to suggest the report is a whitewash but considering the emotions stirred up by this in the Finucane family, it is understandable that this should be their reaction.

The revelations are chilling and I do not believe they have been absorbed by the general body politic here in the South of Ireland. It is important that the Government hold the line and now press again for further information to be provided by the UK Government on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. It is clear from the de Silva report that there is more evidence out there, given that widespread collusion was discovered. How was the de Silva review able to conclude that so many state representatives - police, army and the spooks in MI5 - were directly involved and running agents both in the republican and loyalist movements unless the British also know more about collusion in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings?