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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jan 1973

Vol. 74 No. 1

Business of Seanad.

Before taking the Order of Business I should like to raise a matter of great national importance. It is in relation to Motion No. 22 on the Order Paper which reads:

That Seanad Éireann calls on the Government to introduce legislation to make malicious injury claims arising out of bomb outrages in Border counties and elsewhere a national charge and to establish a fund to compensate persons injured and the dependants of those killed in such outrages.

Unfortunately in Border counties we have had a number of these bomb outrages and I made inquiries as to the number of malicious injury claims lodged against various county councils. The latest information in regard to Donegal County Council is that the total of malicious injury claims lodged against them to date amounts to £438,362. That would be a huge sum to impose on the ratepayers of that county. In County Monaghan, without taking into account the recent bombing in Clones, malicious injury claims to date amount to £23,538. The secretary of the county council stated that this does not include claims arising out of the recent bomb blast in Clones which could be up to £250,000.

Unfortunately, another such outrage happened in Belturbet in County Cavan where the damage was as serious as that caused in Clones and that would probably mean claims against Cavan County Council for £250,000. In a county——

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I am afraid I must intervene to indicate to the Senator that he is entitled to make the case as to why this motion should be dealt with in this way but he is not entitled to go into the subject matter of the motion.

I did not intend to go into the subject matter. I just wanted to give a few figures to indicate to the House how serious malicious injury claim damages could be for people in Border counties if the Government did not take action. This motion asks the Government to provide a fund to compensate those injured and the dependants of those killed. It causes great concern to those who are hospitalised that there is no compensation fund. The Government should act without delay in providing help for those people. An early announcement as to what measures they intend to take in this direction would help to alleviate anxiety. Attacks against people and towns in the Border counties are not attacks on——

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I must ask the Senator to close since he has sufficiently indicated the nature of the matter he wishes to raise.

I will close in half a minute.

It is too long.

These outrages were not committed against the Border counties as such. They are a way for deranged people to make an attack on the State as a whole. The compensation, therefore, should come from the Central Fund and not from the local authorities.

I support this case.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

It is in order for only one Senator to speak. I received from Senator Andy O'Brien a written statement on this matter before today's sitting. I have considered it but must rule that in accordance with precedent, as the motion calls for legislation, it is not one contemplated by the Standing Order. Accordingly, it cannot be entertained for discussion on the adjournment.

Before this motion was handed in—it was received this morning by Senators—the Government had this matter under consideration and are dealing with it.

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