Vol. 399 No. 12
14 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government have been provided by the British Government with a copy of the Stevens report on alleged leaks from security forces in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy is aware, a detailed summary of the main findings of the Stevens inquiry was published on 17 May. That summary contained no less than 83 recommendations designed to address widespread concern at the problem of collusion, which was the subject matter for a series of meetings of the Intergovernmental Conferance last Autumn.
The report clearly recognised serious shortcomings in the recruitment and retention of members of the UDR, and confirmed the involvement of members of the UDR in collusion. These problems have been a longstanding source of deep concern to the Government and to the Nationalist community in Northern Ireland. The Government are seeking full and prompt implementation of those recommendations in the report which attempt to address this most serious issue.
The many recommendations contained in the report are currently the subject of detailed examination and there will be a full exchange of views on the matter at the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference.
Does the Taoiseach intend to present to the House the Government's views on the recommendations? I think it would be generally acknowledged that the Stevens inquiry was a genuine attempt to tackle the issue of collusion. Could the Taoiseach indicate at this stage if any decision has been made with regard to the proposal for an élite unit within the RUC, which would give cause for grave concern in view of the activities of previous élite units, which tended to operate on the margins of the law and that there would be concern about the establishment of such a unit again?
What I have said in the reply is that all the recommendations are under detailed examination by us and will be processed as fully as possible at the Intergovernmental Conference.
Does the Taoiseach intend to present a view, by way of statement or otherwise to the House, on the recommendations that have been accepted by the Government and those which they feel should not be proceeded with?
I would visualise some report on that aspect in due course.
