§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress they are making in their representations to the Government of the Irish Republic into alleged security force collusion with the Provisional IRA in the Irish Republic. [HL160]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)We have not made representations to the Irish Government on this issue. We do accept as do the Irish that certain cases from the past remain a source of grave public concern, particularly those giving rise to serious allegations of collusion by the security forces in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This was one of the issues dealt with in the package of proposals the UK and Irish Governments put to the parties on 1 August. These proposals flowed from the intensive discussions the Irish and we have been engaged in with the parties in recent weeks. The aim of those discussions was to help deliver the full and early implementation of the Good Friday agreement. The package addresses the four outstanding issues: policing, the stability of the institutions, security normalisation and decommissioning. We have invited the parties to give their views on these proposals.
On the issue of alleged collusion, the package includes a proposal that the UK and Irish Governments will appoint a judge of international standing from outside both jurisdictions to undertake a thorough examination of such allegations in the cases of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, along with those of Mr Finucane and Mrs Nelson, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright.
Subject to the parties' agreement on the overall package, it is intended that the investigation of each individual case would begin no later than the end of April 2002, unless this is clearly prejudicial to forthcoming prosecution at that time.
We will publish detailed terms of reference. However, the appointed judge will be asked to review all the papers, interview anyone who can help, establish the facts and will report with recommendations for any further action. If the independent judge recommends a public inquiry in any case, the relevant government will implement that recommendation.
We believe that this approach represents a genuine attempt to respond to the legitimate needs and concerns of those bereaved as a result of these appalling outrages. In dealing with the allegations of collusion once and for all, it will allow us to draw a final line under the past.