Vol. 584 Tuesday, No. 5 4 May 2004 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Tuesday, 4 May 2004. Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach …………………………………1141 Minister for Transport Priority Questions ……………………………1157 Other Questions ……………………………1168 Adjournment Debate Matters ……………………………1174 Leaders’ Questions ………………………………1175 Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 31 ………………1185 Order of Business ………………………………1187 Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion …………………1195 Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Order for Report Stage ……………………………1196 Report Stage ………………………………1201 Messages from Select Committees …………………………1224 Private Members’ Business Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion …………………………1224 Adjournment Debate Schools Refurbishment ……………………………1255 Hospital Accommodation……………………………1258 Co´ rais Uisce agus Se´arachais …………………………1260 Questions: Written Answers ……………………………1265 1141 1142 DA´ IL E´ IREANN 7. Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Taoiseach the action he proposes to take on foot of the ———— report of the sub-committee on the Barron report of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, De´ Ma´irt, 4 Bealtaine 2004. Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights; and if he Tuesday, 4 May 2004. will make a statement on the matter. [11373/04] 8. Mr. Gregory asked the Taoiseach his ———— response to the report of the sub-committee of Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, 2.30 p.m. Defence and Women’s Rights on the Barron report; and if he will make a statement on the ———— matter. [12823/04] The Taoiseach: I propose to take Questions Paidir. Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. Prayer. I understand Mr. Justice Barron will report next, at the beginning of June, on the Dublin ———— bombings of 1972 and 1973, together with the Clones, Belturbet and Pettigo bombings of 28 Ceisteanna — Questions. December 1972 and four other bombing incidents that took place before May 1974, as well as the ———— murder of Brid Carr in November 1971 and the murders of Oliver Boyce and Brid Porter. Commissions of Inquiry. Following that report, he will report on the 1. Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach when he case of Seamus Ludlow. He will then report on expects to receive the report of Mr. Justice other cases including the Dundalk bombing of Barron dealing with the Dundalk and Belturbet 1975 and in the context of that report, he will bombings and the murder of a person (details report on a number of other bombings that took supplied); the procedure that will be used to deal place after May 1974 including the Castleblaney with the report which is submitted; and if he will bombing. I also understand Mr. Justice Barron make a statement on the matter. [5710/04] has concluded his work on substantial portions of these reports but some contacts are still 2. Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach when he outstanding. expects to receive a further report from the It would be the intention that the report, would Barron commission of inquiry in respect of the be considered by the Oireachtas Joint Committee Dundalk and Belturbet bombings; and if he will on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s make a statement on the matter. [6574/04] Rights and they would be published. I would like 3. Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach when he to thank the Oireachtas Joint Committee on expects to receive a further report from Justice Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights Barron in respect of the Dundalk and Belturbet for its report and its comprehensive consideration bombings; and if he will make a statement on the of the Barron report into the Dublin and matter. [7573/04] Monaghan bombings of 1974. The sub-committee 4. Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Taoiseach dealing with the report had a very difficult task if he has received the reports of Justice Barron and the members of the sub-committee carried on the bombings of Dublin in December 1972 and out their work diligently and with great January 1973, the Belturbet bombing of 1972, the sensitivity. This was very important work dealing bomb at Dublin Airport in 1975, the Dundalk with the events that caused the highest number bombing of 1975, the Castleblayney bombing of of fatalities on a single day during the conflict in 1976 and the murder of Seamus Ludlow in Northern Ireland and left so many people 1976. [7947/04] suffering and traumatised. The committee presented its report to the 5. Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach when he Oireachtas and before coming to any decision on expects to receive a further report on the the recommendations contained in the Dundalk and Belturbet bombings from the committee’s report, the Government would wish Barron commission of inquiry; and if he will to consider the views of the Oireachtas on the make a statement on the matter. [9104/04] report’s recommendations. 6. Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the Government’s views on the recommendations of Mr. Rabbitte: In an earlier reply the Taoiseach the sub-committee of the Oireachtas Committee indicated the second Barron report would be on Justice, Defence and Women’s Rights on the available early in 2004. As I am competing with Barron report; the action the Government some noise here, I did not quite hear if the intends to take to ensure that the Taoiseach gave a date for this. How does the recommendations are implemented; and if he will Taoiseach propose handling the second Barron make a statement on the matter. [10774/04] report? Does he intend it to be addressed in the 1143 Ceisteanna — 4 May 2004. Questions 1144 [Mr. Rabbitte.] files. I have no difficulty with that. Equally, the same fashion as the report on the Dublin and sub-committee stated that as part of the Monaghan bombings? investigation process, if the House so decides, a judge could examine these aspects again. That is The Taoiseach: The reply states that work is a matter which the Government will discuss. well advanced on the second report and some It will be necessary to have further discussions contacts remain to be made. While I do not have about those aspects of the matter which involve a date, I assume it is not too far in the future. I Northern Ireland and an inquiry and understand he has most of the drafting done and investigation there. The merits of that will be he just has some outstanding contacts to make. considered. While the idea is that an examination That will cover a number of the cases. It will like that carried out by Mr. Justice Cory should cover the two bombings in Dublin 1972 and 1973. take place, its feasibility will have to be It will also cover the Clones, Belturbet and considered. I raised the matter initially with the Pettigo bombings in 1972. It will also cover the Northern Ireland authorities through Secretary of other bombing incidents that took place before State, Paul Murphy. He has already written to say May 1974, the murder of Brid Carr in November the authorities have no further files, reports or 1971 as well as the murders of Oliver Boyce and data and cannot bring anything more to the table Brid Porter. That is the report which is nearly on this issue. We have a formal letter stating that ready. is the position. He has a separate report on the Seamus I raised this with Prime Minister Blair on Ludlow case. The Deputy will recall that the Sunday in the context that after the debate in the House later asked that this case be investigated. House and the Government’s consideration, we There has been a considerable delay about that will return to the matter. I informed the Prime matter because the family was not satisfied Minister of the recommendation of the initially. That report will be prepared. In the committee that these matters should be context of that report, he will also cover the post- investigated in the United Kingdom or Northern May 1974 issues, which would include the Ireland or, presumably, both. I have not been Dundalk bombing of 1975 and a number of other informed of an official British Government bombings that took place after the 1974 position, but I have made it clear to the Prime bombings, including the Castleblaney bombing. Minister that we will come back to the matter. That is some considerable time away. I presume we are talking about later in the year if not the Mr. Kenny: Following the publication of the end of the year before we get that report. last report, Mr. Justice Barron’s attendance at the We will deal with them in the same way. We sub-committee appears to have been helpful in will give them to the Oireachtas Joint Committee the search for the truth behind the atrocities. Can on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s the Taoiseach confirm or does he have any Rights. information to the effect that Mr. Justice Barron will make himself available to the sub-committee Mr. Rabbitte: What is the Taoiseach’s response in respect of any forthcoming report on these to the recommendations of the Oireachtas Joint matters? It transpired that a number of key Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and personnel were not contacted or interviewed by Women’s Rights on the first Barron report? I ask the commission in the context of the preparation in particular about the recommendation that a of Mr. Justice Barron’s report into the Dublin figure like Judge Cory would carry out an initial and Monaghan bombings. Can we assume that inquiry. Has the Taoiseach raised this matter with will not happen again in respect of any future the British authorities? Did he raise it with the report by Mr.