A call was made for the British-Irish interparliamentary body to be used as a mechanism for co-operation from the British authorities in releasing files linked to atrocities in the North.
Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan made the call during the second day of debate on atrocities in the North, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974, other bombings in Dublin, Dundalk and elsewhere; and the murder of Seamus Ludlow on May 1st, 1976.
Relatives of victims of those attacks observed the debate from the public gallery.
Mr Flanagan said that "perhaps consideration might be given at some level towards moving on matters through the auspices of that body. I hope the Taoiseach will avail of the opportunity presented by his meetings with prime minister Gordon Brown to ensure we can advance this issue which, regrettably, has been neglected by the British authorities."
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said it was "frustrating in the extreme that this debate has been given a title that does not mention the word collusion". The investigations by Mr Justice Barron, the reports of the joint Oireachtas committee and the inquiry of Patrick MacEntee SC, were not, as the title states vaguely, on "violent incidents arising from the conflict in Northern Ireland". They were on attacks, including mass murders, where British state collusion with unionist paramilitaries was strongly indicated. Throughout the long search for truth on collusion, there has been an attempt by some to muddy the waters, a process that serves only further to shield those at the highest level in the British state who bore ultimate responsibility.
He said "the findings of a variety of reports justify the demand for full, independent, public judicial inquiries including the Barron report which concluded that a cover-up involving British forces, the Garda and the Irish Government could not be ruled out in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings".
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said "many terrible, unforgivable atrocities were committed in the name of Ireland and Ulster over 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. The violence occasionally spilled over into this jurisdiction. In many cases, nobody was brought to justice for those atrocities and many relatives still grieve for the loss of loved ones and the absence of answers."
Mr Gilmore who with Mr Ó Caoláin criticised the manner and structure of the debate said "the people concerned are entitled to expect action. The series of sub-committee reports on which we are making statements contain specific recommendations for action by the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Government, yet we are refused the opportunity to endorse those reports or approve their recommendations."
Minister of State Tom Kitt said "it is the allegations of State collusion that are perhaps the most difficult, casting shadows as they do, both on the families of victims as well as on the relationship of trust and the duty of care between citizen and State". He said the justice committee which dealt with the Barron reports, "acknowledged that the failure to make definitive conclusions in respect of the role of the security forces exacerbated the pain and suffering of the victims and their relatives".
