Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Dec 2022

Vol. 1031 No. 2

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Deputy Jackie Cahill

The temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, was announced on 24 March 2020 and ran until 31 August 2020. It replaced the Revenue employer Covid-19 refund scheme. It allowed employers to continue to pay their employees during Covid-19. It aimed to keep employees registered with their employers so that they could get back to work quickly after the pandemic. The employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, which replaced the TWSS, came to an end in May 2022 after two years. The EWSS was the biggest and most important of the wage schemes that were introduced at the height of the pandemic. These schemes helped prevent mass unemployment in our economy during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Along with schemes such as the pandemic unemployment payment, they ensured State injection of investment in the economy so that we did not enter into deep recession. The measures introduced by the Government during Covid-19 saved thousands of jobs, protected livelihoods and ensured people could continue to pay their bills when the economy was effectively shut down at times to protect lives. However, those who continued to work during lockdowns such as front-line and essential workers and who received TWSS payments are now facing bills from the Revenue Commissioners. I have been contacted by constituents in County Tipperary who have been impacted by this. They feel it is wrong that they are now facing bills from Revenue particularly in the lead-up to Christmas after their genuine and honest efforts to continue working when the country was in various lockdowns. These people, for the most part, continued to work the same hours for the same pay. They were no better off financially by doing this even if they were paid normally. By normally, I mean that they were paid without their employers having claimed the TWSS, yet they now face this tax burden.

I ask the Minister of State to not burden these people who continued to work and to keep essential services running in this country at considerable risk to their own health with these additional tax bills now. Their efforts to work at a time there was considerable risk in doing so should be recognised by not retrospectively face these taxes. They worked the same hours for the same pay and now face a bill as a result. I ask that these tax bills are not placed on the people who worked so hard during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep our country open.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Sean Fleming)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I might take this opportunity to provide a recap on the wage subsidy schemes that were a central pillar of the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The issue raised by the Deputy has been raised with me and I know a number of people are in similar situations.

Covid-19 had a sudden and profound impact on the economy with the introduction of public health restrictions across all sectors of the economy, except for those businesses classified as essential services. In response, the TWSS was introduced in March 2020, with the objective of supporting viable firms and maintaining the relationship between employers and their employees. At the outset, it was expected that the TWSS would be in place for a period of 12 weeks. However, given the novel circumstances and the evolution of the situation, it was soon recognised that the measure should remain in place until August 2020. The TWSS was replaced by the EWSS with effect from 1 September 2020.

The EWSS continued to operate as an economy-wide support until the scheme ended on 31 May this year.

The total level of support provided by the wage subsidy schemes was unprecedented at around €10.8 billion, with €2.9 billion in respect of the TWSS and €7.9 billion in respect of the EWSS. Over 66,500 employers were supported through the TWSS, assisting 664,000 employees. The EWSS supported 51,800 employers in respect of almost 746,000 employees.

On the specific issue raised by the Deputy regarding the taxation of EWSS, such payments were taxed in real time in the hands of employees in the same way as normal pay is taxed. EWSS payments were made directly to employers as a per-head subsidy. In turn, they paid their employees. Under the EWSS, as the payments were taxed as they were paid, no undercharges of tax should arise for an employee. However, the position as regards the TWSS was different. Payments made under the TWSS were regarded as income supports and share the characteristics of income. Other income earners in receipt of comparable "normal wages" are taxable on those wages. In the interest of equity, therefore, payments under the TWSS were subject to income tax and the universal social charge, USC.

While income tax and USC on most income are deducted in real time as and when the person is paid, the TWSS payments were not taxed in real time and were instead liable to income tax and USC at the end of 2020. Therefore, tax was not collected while the scheme was in operation to maximise the amount of financial support provided to recipients at a time when it was considered most needed. Instead, liability to tax was determined by way of review at the end of the year.

The tax treatment of TWSS payments was set out in the legislation underpinning the scheme, the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020. The Government was consistent as regards the tax liability of TWSS payments from the outset. Indeed, I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that it clarified the tax treatment of the TWSS at employee level in the guidance material on the TWSS that it published on its website since the commencement of the scheme.

The Revenue Commissioners made a preliminary end-of-year statement available to all employees from 15 January 2021, including those who were in receipt of the TWSS. The statement, which is based on information available on Revenue records, includes information relating to an employee's income received, including pensions and income from the Department of Social Protection, as well as their tax credit entitlements. When I have an opportunity to respond to the Deputy's supplementary remarks I will try to provide further information.

Deputy Jackie Cahill

While the Minister of State was speaking, I read to the bottom of his statement. It is an extremely comprehensive answer and outlines in detail the Revenue Commissioners' treatment of the TWSS. The reality is that people who stayed working during the Covid pandemic and provided essential services for us are now paying a larger proportion of their wages in tax, making up for what happened during the pandemic. While the Minister of State's written statement is extremely clear, it states that "the Government has been clear from the outset that TWSS payments are taxable and in the interests of equity for all taxpayers, there are no plans to change this approach".

There is an affected section of workers who provided essential services. We rightly made a payment to health workers and other front-line workers, whether they were putting bread on the shelves in the supermarkets or doing other services. Irrespective of the service, they continued to work during the pandemic. Now, when they examine their pay packets, they find the tax credits are reduced and the amount of tax has increased.

The Minister of State's explanation is very clear, comprehensive and precise but I ask him to talk to the Revenue Commissioners to determine whether they will recognise the unprecedented circumstances in which workers worked. They were out and about providing essential services and then going home to their families. They now feel an increased tax burden at a time when the cost of living has increased due to the war in Ukraine.

Deputy Sean Fleming

I understand what the Deputy is saying. As he has read in the statement circulated, upon reviewing the preliminary end-of-year statement through myAccount, which is Revenue's secure online facility for individual taxpayer services, employees had an opportunity to complete their income tax returns for 2020, declaring any additional income and claiming any additional tax credits due – for example, qualifying health expenses – to arrive at their final liability. When a liability has been finalised, individuals can opt to fully or partially pay any income tax and USC liability by way of the payments or repayments facility through the Revenue Commissioners in the normal way. Where individuals did not opt to fully or partially pay, the Revenue Commissioners collect the liability by reducing their tax credits over four years interest free. The reduction of tax credits started at the beginning of January 2022. Essentially, the legislation is underpinned by legislation passed in the Oireachtas some time ago. That legislation has not changed and there are no plans to change it or go back to the Revenue Commissioners to reinterpret it.

A number of individuals across the country are in the circumstances described. The legislation provides that any underpayment of tax can be collected over a four-year period. Some people have opted to pay up-front to clear the decks, but the option to spread payments over four years is as far as the legislation permits us to go at this time to ease the cash-flow burden on those affected. There are no plans to change the legislation at this time.

An Ceann Comhairle

I thank the Minister of State for being so frank.

Nursing Homes

An Ceann Comhairle

We will now move back to the first Topical Issue matter, which was submitted by Deputy Flaherty.

Deputy Joe Flaherty

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his forbearance at the outset. I appreciate that we are here at an unusually late hour after a long day in a long week, but it behoves me to share my concerns with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, about the funding of our nursing homes. Whether we agree with it or not, we are dependent on a network of privately owned nursing homes. My office - and probably the Minister of State's constituency office more than any other - is besieged with calls from families desperate to get loved ones into a nursing home, secure what is now almost elusive respite care or relocate a loved one closer to his or her family and community. Increasingly these calls are fraught. People are increasingly angry and consequently turn to their local representatives. Sometimes it is hard to tell these people what I am about to tell the Minister of State, which is the reality on the ground. Put simply, we have a funding deficit in our nursing homes. We have five excellent care providers in the immediate Longford area, all privately run and owned. We also have the State-run and fully funded St. Joseph's in Longford town.

I know the Minister of State is on record as stating State-run community nursing units provide more complex care for residents and that these receive more money as a consequence. There is no doubt that the level of care at the aforementioned St. Joseph's is exceptional. It has a unique place in the hearts of the people of Longford. The staff are first class. I have never come away from there unimpressed by the care, dedication of the staff and welfare and well-being of the patients. I see care and attention of the same level in the four privately-run nursing homes.

An increasing number of small, local and, in many cases, family-run facilities, typically with 40 to 50 beds, are now leaving in the market. I was especially disappointed to see a recent newspaper report blame their exit on a desire to provide emergency accommodation to Ukrainians instead. The newspaper narrative was that this was much more profitable. However, that is not the reality. It was deeply unfair to several families, many of whom have dedicated two and often three generations to the consummate care of elderly neighbours and friends. The reality is that the family-run facilities were creaking under the pressure of punitive and ever more challenging HIQA standards and rapidly increasingly costs.

I know one of the families who opted to leave the sector. Their decision was far from easy and arrived at only after months of agonising and many sleepless nights. Family and friends tell me of the all-consuming stress and anxiety that overwhelmed the family leading up to the final fateful decision. It was a heartbreaking decision for them. A few months later, free of the pressures, financial stresses and worries, it is as if a weight and terminal pressure has been lifted from them.

I am aware that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has worked tirelessly with her ministerial colleagues, and has recently signed off on additional visas for care staff to come into nursing homes. However, the reality is that these facilities are now facing an almost daily battle with the HSE for staff. It is often unsavoury and, in the early days of the battle when it was not yet clarified as to whether staff in private nursing homes would get the pandemic bonus, the HSE was bandying this as a carrot in the hope of attracting staff.

I greatly admire the work the Minister of State does and I know she is personally invested in the care and well-being of our older generation. I know how passionately the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, cares for them and how she is striving to look after the men and women who forged one of the most progressive, ambitious and capable nations in a modern Europe. We and their families need to be reassured that there is an unrivalled level of care available to these people. These are the people who taught us, served us in shops, nursed us, and advised us. When we needed them they were there and now they in turn need us more than ever.

An Ceann Comhairle

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for being here to deal with this matter.

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

I thank Deputy Flaherty for raising this issue. Before I deal with the substantive issues raised, I wish to state categorically that when it comes to HIQA regulations I will never compromise. I will not apologise to anybody in the House for having regulations and standards in place. It is very important that we have oversight and that we have an organisation such as HIQA that can go into any long-term residential care facility to check that best practices and best supports are being provided to our older generations. As Deputy Flaherty has said, they built our country, and they served us in shops and the like. Just so there is absolutely no ambiguity, there will be no movement in relation to standards while I am the Minister of State.

The Government is keenly aware of the challenges that have been faced by the nursing home sector across the country over the last three years. These challenges have been exacerbated over recent months by the increases in energy costs and inflation costs due to volatile global conditions. It is a priority for me that we maintain nursing home provision in rural areas to ensure people can stay living close to their home communities when they need to enter residential care.

I have a budget to work within. My budget for 2022 was €1.4 billion for nursing home care. This is to support some 22,500 people to be able to afford to receive very good services in nursing homes and in community nursing units - public, private and voluntary. I must make sure this budget lasts from 1 January until 31 December every year. As a result, when somebody applies for the fair deal scheme to enter into a nursing home, I can ensure there is a four-week turnaround. Many Deputies who are here longer than me can remember a time when this was not the case. Only a few short years ago, when the budget ran out it took 12 weeks for somebody to access nursing home care. This is my first point.

The Government has provided substantial support to the private and voluntary nursing home sector over the pandemic, with more than €145 million in funding delivered through the temporary assistance payment scheme, TAPS, as well as other supports delivered directly through the HSE, including serial testing, the provision of personal protective equipment, PPE, and the deployment of expert response teams. The TAPS Covid-19 outbreak assistance has been extended to the end of this year. From 1 April 2020 to 31 October 2022, the provision of free PPE and oxygen continued at a cost of €70 million to private nursing homes and a cost of €2.5 million to voluntary nursing homes. This information is not really in the public domain and it needs to be acknowledged.

Further funding was secured in budget 2023 to fund increases in the nursing home support scheme, NHSS, budget. I have secured additional funding for the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, fair deal for 2023 to maintain services and manage inflationary increases. Just over €40 million has been secured for the NHSS, including pressures for next year. This will provide for an uplift in the maximum prices chargeable by private and voluntary nursing homes, as negotiated.

I recently put in place a new scheme, the temporary inflation payments scheme. This €10 million scheme, which has recently been opened to applications, has been established to support private and voluntary nursing homes with increases in their energy costs. It covers 75% of the year-on-year cost increases in energy and heating. I have backdated it to 1 July 2022. Each nursing home can claim €31,500 up to the end of December. I expect to extend that scheme into January.

Deputy Joe Flaherty

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I would certainly like to think that the nursing home operators and providers acknowledge the supports they have received to date. I believe the nub of the issue is money. We must acknowledge that the numerous costs being absorbed by private nursing homes are not applicable to public facilities. These include, for example: capital costs; commercial rates; insurance; and education and training.

I agree that the fair deal scheme has been a lifeline for families. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, must be credited for her work early in the lifetime of this Government in bringing to fruition the legislation providing for the three-year cap on assets, specifically for family farms and family businesses. At the heart of the fair deal scheme is the weekly payment from the HSE to public and private nursing homes, which is paid on a per patient rate. Five years ago, the HSE was paying the publicly run and funded St. Joseph's in Longford €1,912 per week while Laurel Lodge, a short distance down the road and one of the aforementioned five privately run nursing homes, was receiving just €930 per week. That is a difference of €982 per week. Five years on and the payments are increasing nominally but, alas, the gap between what is paid to the private and publicly run nursing homes has increased significantly. Now the public nursing home gets just over €2,000 per week while Laurel Lodge remains more than 100% off that rate at just over €1,000 per week.

Private nursing home operators are worried and genuinely concerned. Staff are stressed and anxious. Most worrying is the fallout from this, which is having consequences for the many families who are desperately trying to ensure the best possible care for their relatives in their twilight years. I cannot comprehend the differences in the payments being paid to the public and private nursing homes. I understand and expect that the HSE and the Minister of State's office will tell me that additional services are being provided in public nursing homes, but I am not convinced. I see no discernible difference in the level of care provided. As a matter of urgency we must review how we fund our private nursing homes.

Deputy Mary Butler

I thank the Deputy. On the funding of the private nursing homes, last year my budget was €1.4 billion. The private nursing homes received €1 billion of that €1.4 billion, supporting 18,000 people, whereas the HSE supports 4,500 people under fair deal. It must also be appreciated that residential HSE-run community nursing units and community hospitals are often staffed at a level that allows the delivery of more complex care where required. These facilities represent less than 20% of the fair deal scheme.

The Deputy said he has not seen the evidence. Today, for example, I was in Cherry Orchard Hospital. I just pick this as it was the most recent one I was in. It currently provides residential care for 113 residents, both male and female. I did see a difference in the supports being provided. Nursing care is available for intravenous drugs; IV fluids; sub-cutaneous fluids; tracheotomy care; and care for those requiring medication via syringe driver. Nursing staff on site include registered general nurses, many of whom have postgraduate qualifications, and a registered advanced nurse practitioner in older persons services with a specialist interest in behavioural therapy. There was also a consultant physician in care of the elderly available, medical officers, pharmacists, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. I am trying to say that we are not comparing like with like across all the nursing homes. They vary. The nursing home sector is very fragmented - 15 companies provide 10,700 nursing home beds in Ireland. I am very conscious of the small, voluntary, rural nursing homes that are family run and are in trouble. I will take this opportunity to assure the sector that I am taking the matter very seriously. I am engaging with my officials as a matter of urgency to appropriately address the challenges the sector faces. At the same time, all the nursing homes must manage their financial challenges. I must manage mine as well. I am acutely aware of the challenges at the moment.

Inland Fisheries

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

This Topical Issue matter is in the names of Deputies Ring, Fitzmaurice and Canney.

Deputy Michael Ring

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this matter for discussion. Earlier this year I raised this issue with the Minister. Since then, a file has been given to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and to the Secretary General of the Department. Very serious allegations have been made in that file.

This is a long-serving employee who has worked for IFI for many years. His father before him and his family gave great service to this State. He was accused of using a tractor, he was suspended from the company and he was then cleared. Even though the CEO himself used machinery to bring his boat from Galway to Donegal, he suspended the staff member and nothing happened to the CEO.

I am calling on the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, to ask the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to take this seriously. He is responsible and has the seal of office. He is the Minister with responsibility for this Department and I want an independent investigation on this, not by someone within the Department but by someone away from the Department. Bring in a barrister or somebody to do an independent review on this because what has happened to this decent family that gave great service to this State is outrageous. I am asking for the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Secretary General to take a hands-on approach to this. There cannot be two laws in this country; one for the working man and one for CEOs of State agencies. I call my two colleagues to come in on this.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter. The appointments of people have been questionable. There are clear messages from the top to the middle and the bottom on what went on and there are transcripts. The Department has all of that in its possession. Allegations were made against the people at the bottom but the one thing the Government should do is appoint a retired High Court judge, an independent person, to look at this. From everything we have seen it stinks from the high heavens.

Deputy Seán Canney

I want to add my voice to the concerns that have been raised. As the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in the last Government, I am truly shocked at what is going on and the evidence I have seen is disturbing. All of our inland fishing is for the benefit of people on the ground and for local angling clubs. What I am beginning to see is that something is going on that is not right. From the evidence I have seen it needs to be investigated as a matter of urgency by an independently appointed person. The onus is on the Minister of State to take this on and to do that as a matter of urgency. There is no point in leaving it for internal investigations because there are allegations up and down the scale here. As Deputy Ring has said, one man who has given almost 40 years of service has been left outside the door for a trivial matter. Yet we see evidence of other things that may be going on so it is important that these things are investigated independently. This is very disturbing.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Ossian Smyth)

I thank the Deputies. I welcome the opportunity to once again set out the factual position on these matters. I can advise that a number of protected disclosures, mostly anonymous, have been made on IFI to the Department and to IFI itself. These disclosures are being examined in line with the protected disclosure policy of the Department and the equivalent policy of IFI, as appropriate. It is important to note that the veracity of the disclosures has not been established at this stage and this will remain the position pending the outcome of the examinations under both protected disclosure policies.

I am advised by IFI that allegations of serious wrongdoing made in the original anonymous disclosure earlier this year against a senior member of IFI staff have been the subject of a separate independent internal investigation in IFI, which is now concluded. While this investigation was in process, the relevant staff member was suspended. Following the conclusion of the investigation, that staff member has been dismissed. I should also advise that matters examined as part of this investigation are under investigation by An Garda Síochána and in that context, it would not be appropriate to comment further on this particular matter.

In addition, evidence of attempts to place pressure on, and alleged intimidation of, IFI personnel during the course of and subsequent to the investigation referred to above have also been referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation. Some of the matters alleged in subsequent disclosures were raised in Seanad Éireann on 5 May last and the assertions made were the subject of inaccurate media reports relating to IFI. These reports suggested that significant irregularities have been identified in the organisation.

It should be noted that the original disclosure resulting in the dismissal referred to above, and now the subject of a Garda investigation, was not raised on that occasion. The assertions raised on 5 May were fully addressed on a number of occasions in both Houses, setting out the detailed factual position on same. The fact is that these particular issues have been previously considered and addressed through, inter alia, the then chair's statutory statement of internal control; external audit reviews; correspondence between IFI and my Department; and IFI board's own assessment of these matters, which my Department has accepted. The chair's statement on behalf of the board indicates that: issues identified have been addressed; IFI assets are being appropriately managed; and other allegations can be fully refuted by IFI. I want to reiterate that I and my Department have fully accepted the assurances of the board in this regard.

Separately, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, appointed Mr. Conleth Bradley, senior counsel, under section 18 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, to carry out a review of the exercise by the board of its functions under the Act. The report of the review carried out by Mr. Bradley was sent to the board and discussed at a meeting between the board and officials of the Department on 26 October, where it was agreed that the review was warranted. All the recommendations therein were accepted by the board and it was agreed that the board would implement all of these recommendations. The primary focus of the Minister, the board and departmental officials is to implement the recommendations and work in close collaboration with the executive and board of IFI for the benefit of the entire inland fisheries resource.

Deputy Michael Ring

I am not happy with that reply. When I raised this in the Dáil last year the Department had to write to me afterwards because I made allegations that there were vehicles in Donegal that were not insured. The record of the Dáil should be corrected because the Department wrote to me to tell me that I was quite correct and that some vehicles were not insured at the time. You cannot believe anything that is coming out from that board and that is why an independent inquiry needs to be held on this immediately. An innocent family man gave loyal service to IFI and somebody came in and his brother was chairman of the board. Whatever differences there were, this is wrong and it has to be dealt with. An injustice has been done here and that injustice will have to be corrected. I will not be letting this go. I will be back here and I will be raising this on the Order of Business every single day in the new year. Something has to be done and maybe the Standards in Public Office Commission or some body like that should come in and independently investigate it.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice

I agree with Deputy Ring that an independent person has to come in. The Minister of State is referring to it going back to IFI to look at it before it comes out again. He should forget about that because the problem has gone too deep. The Minister of State has said that different letters came in. The people who sent files signed their names to them so this is not hidden; it is out in the open and there is a transcript of everything that went on. This is not wonder stuff that has to be investigated morning, noon and night. It is there in black and white and it needs someone from outside to investigate it. Someone from outside who is totally independent must go in and investigate. The Minister of State should get someone like a retired High Court judge to go through it from top to bottom and make sure this is thoroughly investigated.

Deputy Seán Canney

I want to add my voice to what has been said. We are coming from three different constituencies to bring this to the Minister of State. There is a lot of feeling that there is something wrong and amiss and that it has not been investigated properly or externally. The review that was done on the board was not what was needed. There are actions that have been taken and allegations have been made that have not been refuted, including on the vehicles that were not insured etc. If we continue to brush this over we will end up in a situation where IFI, inland fisheries and the angling clubs will be the victims of all of this. We need to get this right.

Deputy Ossian Smyth

I acknowledge the strength of feeling from all three Deputies, that they are from different constituencies and that they mean what they say. I should be clear that the process is by no means over. There are a number of Garda investigations ongoing and the latest protected disclosures on IFI, which were mostly anonymously made, are still being examined. The Department has to follow due process; there is a set of laws that have to be complied with and all the allegations have to be fully examined.

The Department has a protected disclosures policy and there is an equivalent protected disclosure policy in IFI and they must be respected. I repeat that the veracity of the disclosures has not yet been established pending the outcome of the examinations of these protected disclosures and the persons against whom unverified disclosures have been made are entitled to fairness and due process. There is a presumption of innocence in this country and the Deputies would expect to receive that for themselves and their constituents.

Regarding the appointment of an external person to carry out an investigation, the Minister did appoint a barrister - senior counsel Conleth Bradley - to carry out a review of the board so he appointed somebody externally. That is an appointment by the Minister from outside the relevant agency to carry out a review of the execution and functions of the board. The process of examination is by no means over. It must be carried out in compliance with the law and according to due process. Garda investigations must be allowed to take their course without me making comments that would prejudice them or interfere with them in any way.

Garda Investigations

Deputy Matt Carthy

The 50th anniversary of the bombings at Belturbet in County Cavan, Clones in County Monaghan and Pettigo in County Donegal will be marked on 28 December. The three bombs exploded within 49 minutes of each other. It is widely believed that the UVF in conjunction with British state agents were responsible for the attack. Nobody has ever been held to account.

For many years, the response of this State to the bombings was silence but thanks to the efforts of families, local communities and the organisation, Justice for the Forgotten, a focus of sorts has been put on these incidents. In October 2022, An Garda Síochána issued a renewed appeal for information, which I welcome. There were two victims of the Belturbet bombing - 16-year-old Patrick Stanley from Clara in County Offaly, survived by his parents Teresa and Joe, now deceased, and nine siblings; and 15-year-old Geraldine O'Reilly from Drumacon, Staghall, Belturbet. She left her parents Mary Kate and Joseph, also both sadly deceased, and seven siblings bereaved.

The official record states that there were no fatalities from the bombings at Pettigo and Fermanagh Street in Clones but that does not tell the full story. A local Clones man, Paddy McCabe, was one of those who came to assist in the clear-up operation after the explosion. He was working on the roof of the building that was damaged by the bomb when he had a fall that resulted in his death. The Clones bombing was directly related to his death, although he has never been recognised as a victim of the bombing, but the impact on his family was as profound as that on any victims of the conflict. Paddy left behind his beloved wife Vera to be the sole carer of their eight children, then aged from two to 14 years. They lost their husband and father and their lives would never be the same again. It was a direct result of the Clones bombing but because he was never recognised as such, Paddy's family was denied supports and resources that might otherwise have been made available.

I recently had the opportunity, alongside Councillor Pat Traynor and the Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Seán Conlon, to meet some of Paddy McCabe's now grown-up children. They had two requests. The first was that they be informed of all developments in the Garda investigation into the bombings at Clones, Belturbet and Pettigo and that they be considered interested parties for updates on the case. I am pleased that following my correspondence with An Garda Síochána, I am informed a Garda has been assigned as a liaison for the family.

Second, they sought long-denied recognition that the loss of their father was a consequence of the Clones bombing. This is why I welcome the opportunity to record the name of Paddy McCabe in the record of the Dáil tonight as a victim of the Clones bombing. I ask the Minister of State to join me in extending condolences to the family of Paddy McCabe alongside the families of Patrick Stanley and Geraldine O'Reilly as we approach the 50th anniversary of their deaths.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Deputy James Browne)

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. Almost 50 years ago, bombs exploded at Belturbet, Clones and Pettigo. In Belturbet, this callous act of violence claimed the lives of two innocent young people - Geraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley - and injured others. My deepest sympathies go out to the bereaved and the injured.

The dreadful effects of this attack last to this day. The suffering of those who have lost what was most precious to them goes on. That the perpetrators of this atrocity have never been held accountable for their crimes can only compound the sense of loss.

As the Deputy will be aware, the bombing and murders were comprehensively investigated by An Garda Síochána at the time but there was insufficient evidence to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Garda authorities have continually confirmed that the investigation into the bombing and the two murders has not been closed and An Garda Síochána will pursue any new evidence or information that is made available.

The recent announcement that An Garda Síochána has identified a number of lines of inquiry following a review of the Belturbet bombing investigation has to be welcomed. A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Ballyconnell Garda station.

While almost 50 years have passed, hope remains for victims and their families that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. I assure the Deputy that the appalling events of that day are very much in our thoughts and engagement will continue with the Garda Commissioner in relation to progress in this investigation.

An Garda Síochána issued an appeal on 18 October for anyone with information in relation to the bombing to make contact. Today, I make the same plea for anybody with any information that may be relevant to this case to bring it to the attention of the Garda authorities to aid their investigation.

Deputy Matt Carthy

I thank the Minister of State for the update on the investigation. I ask him to give an assurance that he will endeavour to consistently update the families of the two victims he mentioned, Geraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley, and the family of Paddy McCabe regarding any progress in that investigation. Will he also ensure that Justice for the Forgotten continues to be recognised for the fantastic work it has done on behalf of families in Monaghan, Dublin, Belturbet, Clones, Castleblayney, Pettigo and many other victims of bombings who were long forgotten? It was that organisation alongside the families and local communities that ensured these lost lives were consistently remembered at a time when many seemed too willing to forget.

Will the Minister of State endeavour to ensure that victims like Paddy McCabe and their families are also recognised? Their loss was as profound as that of anybody else. While they may not have been in the immediate vicinity of the explosion, they were just as much victims of that bombing, particularly Paddy McCabe, as anybody else. I ask him to ensure the Department finds a mechanism to allow those families to be part of investigations, commemorative events and any other actions undertaken.

Deputy James Browne

I will certainly endeavour to ensure that the Department keeps the families updated regarding any developments I would expect to happen. I would expect that An Garda Síochána will do likewise. As the Deputy noted, a Garda liaison officer has been appointed. Of course, we think of all those who lost their lives in the immediate events of all these bombings where people were viciously murdered and injured. Many who did not die in the immediate event went on to suffer very serious consequences and may have had their lives shortened.

The announcement by An Garda Síochána in October that a number of lines of inquiry have been identified with regard to the Belturbet bombing and that a senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigation shows the commitment of the Garda authorities to these legacy cases. Despite the length of time, we have not forgotten and An Garda Síochána will continue to investigate.

It is almost 50 years since that terrible day when two families lost their loved ones forever and many others were injured. Hope can and must remain for those families that the perpetrators can be brought to justice. The Government's approach to legacy and reconciliation has always been that it should be victim-centred, taking the Stormont House Agreement as its starting point. The UK's legacy Bill, which seeks to introduce an amnesty for crimes committed during the Troubles, risks severely damaging the process of reconciliation in Northern Ireland and here. It is the firm view of this Government that these paths must remain open to victims, survivors and their families. I again call on anybody with any information that may be relevant to this case to bring it to the attention of An Garda Síochána to aid its investigation.

Is féidir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scríofa ar www.oireachtas.ie .

Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.

Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 10.50 p.m. go dtí 8.54 a.m., Déardaoin, an 15 Nollaig 2022.

The Dáil adjourned at 10.50 p.m. until 8.54 a.m. on Thursday, 15 December 2022.