The Co-Chairman (Mr Laurence Robertson MP

I concur with everything Deputy Crowe has said about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The British Government and the British authorities have failed to come clean with regard to the information they have about the collusion that led to those atrocities in this part of the island. Equally, there are atrocities in the North that need to be flushed out because the victims of those crimes there have not been fully satisfied. I refer in particular to the Omagh situation.

I was one of the Members of this Oireachtas who, approximately ten years ago, listened to the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and took evidence from a variety of people, including the authorities, over a period of two or three years. As Mr Justice Barron, who headed up the inquiry, said at the time, it was very clear that there was a complete failure on the part of the British authorities to co-operate and make information available. If this Assembly is sincere about ensuring relations are based on a solid foundation going forward, we should collectively seek to ensure that is rectified.

I do not accept that MI5 should have a veto, as was conveyed to a former Taoiseach by a former British Prime Minister. That simply is not good enough. I ask for this to be made a priority. These people have waited 40 years for some sort of closure and justice. The inquiry reports that were compiled by an all-party group in the Oireachtas clearly stated that this State had failed the victims. I do not see any commitment on the part of this Government, and indeed some previous Governments, although not all of them, to actually get to the bottom of this. I think that is a responsibility.

In the same way, I would regret the failure of the British and Irish Governments to have been engaged over the last number of years. This has allowed a little bit of a void to develop, which in turn has led to many of the protests we have seen in the North, which have been an affliction on Loyalist communities, in particular, as well as Republican communities. I do not think that is particularly good enough.

I want to refer specifically to the savage murder of Paul Quinn, a young boy who was brutally beaten to death in south Armagh. As I mentioned yesterday, there is widespread suspicion as to at least some of the perpetrators who were involved in that. They have not been brought to justice. That only encourages them to continue to be involved in criminality. That is unacceptable.

I am actually surprised with the response we got from yesterday’s report. I have been contacted by people from south Armagh - I think others in this House have been contacted as well - who want to say that even though they feel abandoned by the authorities here and elsewhere, they are grateful that some people, at least, are showing a degree of courage and empathy with them at last. The report that Senator Coghlan put before the House yesterday is a case in point. Of course that is valueless if it is not pursued.

I will finish on this. I understand from somebody who is related to a nurse in the hospital to which Paul Quinn was brought, and who was there during the Troubles, that the beating he took actually had him in a condition - he was dead, obviously - which was akin to the worst victims of bombings they had seen during the Troubles. That simply is not good enough. The authorities have an obligation to stand by innocent law-abiding civilians and not be putting political imperatives before that. Our first responsibility is the security of the people we represent.

I will respond to Senator Walsh by referring specifically to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I take the points he has made in relation to a murder. Many of share his views in relation to how that poor man was treated. Anybody who has any shred of humanity will see that he has not received natural justice. I think we would all share that, regardless of our creed, if you will.

I would like to deal with a few issues. I thank the Taoiseach for coming to address us yesterday. I thank those involved in committees A, B, C and D for the work they have done. I thank the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for coming in as well. I think our visit to the Garden of Remembrance was poignant and historic. We were very fortunate to hear from the extremely competent people who spoke at Croke Park on behalf of the various associations - the FAI, the IRFU, the IFA and the GAA. I think that was very engaging.

I will conclude by mentioning one thing I would like to see coming out of this session. I am delighted that the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly has put its weight behind the island of Ireland’s bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. I hope to see you next year. Once again, I thank my Co-Chair for the work he has done. I will hand over to him.
The Co-Chairman (Mr Laurence Robertson MP): Just in closing I would like to thank Frank and his team, as indeed I did last night. I would like to repeat those thanks for putting on what I think has been an excellent plenary session. It has been very interesting indeed, linking sport in a positive way to how it might impact on the political situation in bringing people together. It has been an enormously informative, enjoyable and interesting plenary. Thank you, Frank, and all your team. I also thank the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad - I had to practice that word – for allowing us to use this beautiful Chamber, which I think really lends itself to very good discussion.

I thank my team – Robin, Amanda and Sir Michael – for everything they have done to help us. We are going to hold the next plenary in Cheltenham in November. If you would like to come to Cheltenham in two weeks’ time for the festival, you will be very welcome. Just let me know.

I want to mention two Members particularly. Paul Murphy MP, who cannot be here today, is a former Co-Chairman and a former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Wales. He is one of the vice chairmen of the British side. He is retiring at the next election. He has been a huge help to me. I would like to pay tribute to him in his absence and thank him for everything he has done.
Some Members: Hear, hear.
The Co-Chairman (Mr Laurence Robertson MP): As we have heard, Bob Walter MP is also retiring at the next election. He is the other vice chairman on the British side. He has been a huge help. I would like to thank you, Bob, very much indeed for all the help you have given me and all the work you have done for BIPA over the years. It gives me great pleasure to ask you to move the adjournment.
Mr Robert Walter MP: Thank you very much indeed, both Co-Chairmen. It is a great honour indeed to move the adjournment. As we have just heard, we have had a very successful plenary over the last couple of days. We have heard from Ministers, including the Taoiseach. We have visited the Garden of Remembrance and Croke ark. We have enjoyed the luxury of the Shelbourne Hotel. Most importantly, we have had the contribution of Members of the Assembly.

12.30 pm.

This is the 50^th meeting of the Assembly and our 25^th anniversary. As Laurence has just said, it is my last meeting. My commitment to this Assembly goes back over many years. I have to say I have no Irish antecedents. I have got no Irish property. I cannot claim any distant Irish relatives. I am always reminded of our former colleague, Peter Brooke. No matter where we were in Ireland, he could always tell the story of some distant relation of his who was the local auctioneer, might have played cricket on the village green or was the Church of Ireland minister. I cannot reflect really on that.

All I can say is that over the years, I have had many Irish friends. I have been very close to a number of incidents in the troubles, including the bombing of the Post Office Tower. I just happened to have a flat which was virtually in the same street. That was way back in 1971. One of the pubs targeted in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings was a pub that I used very regularly as a student. I left the Grand Hotel in Brighton just 30 minutes before the bomb went off there.

The most poignant recollection which always sticks in my memory and really is why I have felt that the dialogue here is so important is that in March 1979, Airey Neave MP was assassinated on the car park entrance of the House of Commons. We had some very dear Irish friends whose children were roughly the same age as our children. My daughter was at tea with these dear friends that day. When I went to pick her up, I was greeted at the door by my friend Annie who said “Bob, today I am ashamed to be Irish”. I thought I wanted to write that nobody should have to be ashamed to be Irish because this really needed to be solved, not by violence, bombs and bullets but by dialogue.

When Michael Mates and Peter Temple-Morris asked me to join this Assembly back in 1997 – 18 years ago – I jumped at the opportunity. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Much has changed. The Good Friday Agreement, the composition of this body, which is now the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, the visit of Her Majesty The Queen, the visit of President Higgins to London last year, our joint commemoration of the sacrifices of the First World War. It has been a great pleasure and a great honour to be part of this body. I wish you well. I wish you success in the future. I shall miss you. [Applause.]

Thank you very much. I formally move the adjournment.