Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that the long battle of the Miami Showband came to a conclusion yesterday.I listened to an interview this morning on "The Pat Kenny Show" with one of the members of the band. In many ways, I am sorry that the case did not go to a full hearing to allow us to get to the bottom of exactly what was involved. There is no doubt that most of us who work a uniform on either side of the Border were decent, hard-working people who wanted nothing other than security, to protect vital installations and to stop terrorists in their tracks. However, we must also accept that there was collusion. On both sides of the Border there were people involved, in the uniform of whichever country they served, who were not working for the good of mankind but were working for terrorists in the background. We need to ensure that mess is cleaned up. All of those who were responsible for some of the most horrendous deeds must be brought to justice.

I fully appreciate that in offering €100 to families to cover part of their electricity bill, means-testing the payment would make it almost impossible to roll out. However, I object to giving out money we are borrowing and will have to pay back. I ask people who are sufficiently well off that they do not need this €100 to please contribute it to a charity. Please give it to people who really need it rather than taking €100 they do not particularly need. There are people in this country to whom €1,000 would mean nothing. I am asking that people make a contribution to the less well off in society because there are people who are seriously hurting. I would rather have seen this money spent on installing filtration systems in schools but that is another day's work. We are where we are on that one.

At the weekend, I listened to "Saturday with Katie Hannon" and I was rather disappointed to find that the Women of Honour had to express again their concern with the way in which the Department of Defence is treating their issues. I do not propose to get into the rights or wrongs of the matter, other than to make a request to Senator Kyne, who is a member of the same party as the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney. I ask Senator Kyne to request that the Minister engage with the Women of Honour again. I know the Department, Minister and Chief of Staff, Seán Clancy, want to get it right. PDFORRA and RACO want the matter cleaned up once and for all.

It is interesting that the number of allegations has been steadily declining. There has been a learning period within the Defence Forces and people are realising what is unacceptable in society today. I hope this becomes a zero-sum game at the end of all of this. I know the Minister wants to do the right thing. We should get behind these women again and give them support. Nobody should have to beg for what they are looking for.