Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Alan Shatter, for attending. It is only proper that we seize the opportunity to address the injustice experienced by those members of the Defence Forces who left the country to fight with the Allies and help those affected as a consequence in the most appropriate way. For these reasons, I warmly welcome the legislation and congratulate the Minister on introducing it.

It is almost three quarters of a century since the outbreak of the Second World War and the events of that time seem to belong to a very different era. One of the major changes to have taken place is in our relationship with our nearest neighbour, Great Britain. During the Emergency the idea that a British monarch would be warmly welcomed to Ireland or that "God Save the Queen" would ever be sung or heard in Croke Park would have been considered completely impossible and beyond belief, but this has happened. The idea that someone would leave the Defence Forces to fight with the Allies struck at the heart of what was considered to be patriotism and was dealt with in a most harsh and cruel way. We now have the opportunity to re-evaluate the reasoning and the actions of long ago. While the bravery and loyalty of the members of the Defence Forces who remained at home is widely acknowledged, it is only right that those members who left to fight with the Allies should equally be acknowledged. It is a measure of our continuing growth and maturity as a nation that we recognise the importance of granting this amnesty. I sincerely hope those who still survive and all of the families involved will feel that, finally, a wrong has been righted. I commend the Bill to the House.