Political reaction:The findings of the MacEntee report on poor record-keeping and maintenance of files by the Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice were "truly shocking", Labour spokeswoman on equality and law reform Kathleen Lynch said last night.
In addition to the inadequate original Garda investigation, "the failure to maintain records undermined any prospect of a subsequent, successful re-opening of the investigation," she said.
Ms Lynch commented that the combined work of Justice Barron and Mr MacEntee painted a picture of victims and survivors "being let down by the gardaí and successive governments of this State".
She said that, at a minimum, the Government should now ensure the report was debated in full by the Dáil and Seanad prior to the general election.
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent and former MEP Patricia McKenna have also called on the Taoiseach to permit a debate in the Dáil and Seanad before he calls the election. If there was no debate, Mr Ahern would have "failed in his duty" to the victims and their relatives. Ms McKenna said "Bertie Ahern has given a commitment to the victims' relatives and friends that a Dáil and Seanad debate will take place."
Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called on Mr Ahern to recall the Dáil during the Easter recess "to allow time for a full and open debate on collusion". "The only logical explanation for what took place is a cover-up of collusion.
"Gross incompetence is not enough to explain the failure to investigate and the apparent destruction of records. Citizens in this State have been murdered by British surrogates and that puts responsibilities on this Dáil to have a full and open debate on collusion and on the Taoiseach to demand British co-operation in collusion inquiries."
