HC Deb 17 May 2000 vol 350 c322
5. Mr. David Trimble (Upper Bann)

What information he has supplied and what representations he has made to the Irish Government with regard to suspected collusion between members of the Irish police and terrorist organisations. [121149]

The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Adam Ingram)

The Government keep in regular contact with the Irish Government on security-related matters. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently wrote to the Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform following his announcement in the Dail on 13 April of an internal Garda investigation into allegations of Garda-PIRA collusion. That followed previous representations to the Irish Government in November and December last year—[Interruption.] The Government welcome the investigation and hope that it will be concluded thoroughly and speedily. [Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. I cannot hear the Minister, nor can Mr. Trimble hear the answer. I do not know what is going on. Had the Minister completed his answer?

Mr. Ingram

indicated assent.

Madam Speaker

Could you hear the answer, Mr. Trimble?

Mr. Trimble

Yes, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker

Good—because I could not. Let us hear your supplementary question.

Mr. Trimble

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

I thank the Minister for the representations that are being made to the Irish authorities about the cases in which there is suspicion of collusion between Irish police and paramilitaries. May I refer him to one such case, involving the murder of Chief Superintendent Breen and Superintendent Buchanan, and in particular the report in Toby Harnden's authoritative book, which says that after the incident the RUC had evidence of a telephone call from an officer in Dundalk Gardai station to the IRA, setting up the ambush? Has that information and evidence been supplied to the Irish authorities and, if so, when?

Mr. Ingram

Those who have the information would of course have supplied it, if it is in the hands of the authorities, through either the Government or the RUC. Clearly, we want a very thorough investigation into that murder and the others of which the right hon. Gentleman is all too well aware. We will monitor those investigations closely because the important aspect is that the killings took place in our jurisdiction in Northern Ireland.