Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

I have always felt the Irish Government was reluctant because it has had an instinct that it should operate within the bounds of diplomacy and that diplomacy is the best way to try to get the British across the line in terms of change. It strikes me that the unilateralism that is at the heart of the Tory Government at the moment is impervious to diplomacy. In fact, when we saw the European Union threaten to bring Britain to court over the Brexit issue, it very quickly changed the British Government’s direction of travel on that issue. The British Government does not understand the subtleties of diplomacy but only understands stronger engagement such as court cases.

We have been looking at and produced a Bill that would give an opportunity for the Southern Government to initiate a commission of investigation into the South in respect of murders committed in the North of Ireland with regard to the British state, and murders committed in the Southern State, such as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and so on. We are trying to find justice where we can get it. The particular commission of investigation we are looking at would allow for evidence to be given to a judge in the Southern jurisdiction, it would allow people from the North of Ireland also to provide evidence and it would allow that evidence collected in reports in the North and elsewhere, in term of state violence especially, be included in the investigation. For example, the Police Ombudsman in the North of Ireland has carried out some very good work in respect of killings that happened in the North and that could be included into an investigation located in the South of Ireland. Obviously, we would not have the ability to subpoena people outside of this jurisdiction, but such a commission of investigation still would offer a great opportunity for the collection of information and also for that information to be analysed for a decision to be made in respect of responsibility for state murders. What are the witnesses' opinions on such a project?