asked the Minister for Justice if there has been any progress in the investigation of the recent cinema bombing in Dublin.

48.

asked the Minister for Justice if investigations are yet completed into the recent bombings in Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.

It is totally unrealistic to expect me to make statements in this House about events which obviously are still the subject of Garda investigations.

I have repeatedly said that it is not open to me to make such statements and, indeed, I regard questions of this kind as an abuse of the processes of this House.

As regards bombings and threats of bombings, is the Minister examining the situation in respect of the remedial measures which the Garda are taking in the matter of parked cars? Is he considering the position about damages and compensation to car owners whose cars, parked in various parts of the city, are presently being blown up?

They are not being blown up by the Garda Síochána but by members of the Army in the course of their duty. I understand the procedure is that the owner of a car which is damaged in these circumstances can apply to the Department of Defence for compensation.

Has anything been settled about compensation in this important matter?

The people have been told to apply to the Department of Defence and when their claims have been looked into I have no doubt they will be paid.

Would the Minister not agree that in order to allay public anxiety it is important that he should issue a report on the progress being made in the investigation and whether there is any reason for people to be more afraid than they are? That is why we asked this question.

It would be unwise for me to hinder the activities of the Garda Síochána by issuing reports myself. The Garda have given certain indications to the public already of the lines on which they are working and have asked for their co-operation in relation to certain cars, the numbers of which have been given and which might be a danger in the future. Beyond that, I think it would be unwise to go.

Would the Minister agree with the view which is widely held that it is not the IRA or the UDA but a Marxist group——

That is a totally different question.

No, Sir, it arises out of the reply—that it is a Marxist group that wants to keep the pot boiling in this country?

Did the Deputy say a Markpress group?

No. They would not be in touch there.