Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Patrick Costello. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to another important and poignant discussion on the deep, dark legacy issues that beset all of us on this island regardless of political tradition, geography, age or demographic status. The more we discuss these issues, the more clear, evident and important it becomes that we ensure that full justice is always delivered to all victims of a really dark period in our shared history, a shared and painful past that deserves not just justice but truth. It also requires full buy-in from all entities, however. As has been said by numerous speakers, there is broad agreement across this island that there can be no amnesty and that we cannot simply forget or disappear the past or the very many things that are still outstanding.

The recent Police Ombudsman's report is absolutely damning. It is damning of the collusion, the failings of investigation and the outright actions that led to murder and attempted murder of civilians in Northern Ireland at a very difficult time in the Troubles, in the early 1990s. These events are relatively recent, within living memory for many of us. Many of the families are still alive and seeking justice and still no doubt go to bed every night pained by the memories of that time. Responsibility lies on all of us in this House, particularly the Government, which is why I welcome the opening remarks by the Minister and his continuing efforts with his colleagues to ensure that the terms of the Good Friday Agreement are fully met by all signatories, namely the Irish Government, the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland. The British Government over the last number of years has been failing to meet the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Therefore it lies within the responsibility of this Government as a co-guarantor to ensure those obligations are met. It is clear that justice and truth are still outstanding. Any efforts to introduce an amnesty will be a slap in the face to the families of those victims and so many other families across this island and indeed in Great Britain who suffered during this extremely dark period.

I think of the five people who were murdered at Sean Graham bookmakers, other murders and attempted murders and the eight attacks in all that still are outstanding and have not seen true justice delivered. The level of collusion between state and non-state actors and the ability for so many individuals to engage in truly dirty war activities are a stain on our recent conscience. They are a stain that must be tended to through genuine engagement and genuine attempts at reconciliation.

As important as it is to ensure that justice is delivered for the families of those slain at the Sean Graham bookmakers, we must also remember other victims. We remember the families of the disappeared. We repeat the call to those who know, and there are certainly people on this island who know where the bodies of Columba McVeigh and Jean McConville are, to ensure that those bodies can be returned to their families for a respectful and Christian burial. Because we do not believe in amnesties for everyone, we do not believe in amnesties for anyone. We believe in justice, truth and reconciliation for all. There is no point just talking about one set of victims. This Police Ombudsman's report is damning and refers to certain occasions that require deep analysis, investigation and full engagement by the British state, British state actors and those in Northern Ireland who were around at the time to establish what level of truth and justice can be delivered. We have to make sure that the quest for truth and justice is based on equality.

I am not going to go on for much longer because I want to give way to my colleague, Deputy Costello. I hope we can continue to have these discussions in this Chamber. While others do not particularly want to talk about these topics and are prepared to pretend they did not happen or just to move on, we all know there are so many families on this island that simply cannot move on. The more we talk about it and call for justice, the more we will lend our support to the continuing efforts of the Minister, the Government and all parties in this House to ensure justice is delivered for all peoples who suffered during the Troubles.

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