Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before I respond to what has been said, I, like others, express my condolences to the family of Christopher Stalford, who I knew quite well from time spent in Belfast. He was a tough negotiator, but he was deeply committed to his family, to politics and to the DUP. I express my sincere condolences to his wife, his family, his broader circle of friends and to the DUP as a party on the untimely death of Christopher.

I thank all those who have spoken this evening and contributed in a full way to this important discussion. The strength of feeling in relation to these issues is very clear. Across this House and across political parties, we share common concerns and a common sense of purpose on the need to address, fully and openly, the darker moments in the history of the conflict on this island for all communities. I know that we stand in solidarity with the families who have been impacted by the Police Ombudsman’s reports and their significant and deeply concerning findings. As I stated at the outset of this debate, these reports are testament to the importance of the work of the office of the Police Ombudsman. The reports are a concrete contribution to dealing with the past. They show that there are important truths that can still be uncovered for families, even regarding such difficult and complex cases. They show that there are important things to be brought to light, not just from the early 1970s, but in significantly more recent times, including the 1990s. The ombudsman’s findings in relation to the significant intelligence and investigative failures she has identified, and the collusive behaviours by the RUC during these periods of time, must be acknowledged fully. It is only through the rigorous examination of past failings that we can have confidence that no such failings will be repeated in future. The victims and families can hopefully feel some measure of comfort that their concerns have been shown to be fully justified and valid. I am sure this does not ease the pain that has undoubtedly been relived with every page of these reports as they read through them.

The peace process has shown the extraordinary capacity of all communities in Northern Ireland to work for reconciliation and a better, brighter future for the next generation. There are young people in Derry, Belfast and Fermanagh who have not known the lived experience of conflict, and that is an achievement once unthinkable, which must be safeguarded. I have taken a consistent message from my meetings with victims, families, political parties and civil society organisations in my time as Minister, which is that until the legacy of the past is addressed, society will continue to carry the burden of the past into the future, and it will rest on the shoulders of the next generation whether we like it or not. I have seen young people born after the Troubles from families that have been so deeply impacted by trauma that they carry these burdens too. We need to make sure we do not allow the psychological legacy to be passed on without every possible effort to address and reduce it. Wounds will not heal by simply deciding that it is time to move on. We must face it, and acknowledge it, and where a process of justice is possible, it must be applied.

It is only through doing this that we can support a society that can be fully confident in its institutions, in peace and the rule of law, and in the protection of every citizen's fundamental human rights.

As I said, there is undoubtedly significant work and an important role for the Irish Government in addressing the legacy of conflict across this island. We intend to play our full part in that process, and a number of speakers have spoken pointedly in that regard. That is why we passed the Criminal Justice (International Co-Operation) Act to support the Kingsmill inquest and other inquests. That is why we have consistently sought, and continue to seek, an agreed way forward and a comprehensive system that works in both jurisdictions. Together with the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland, we reached the Stormont House Agreement after an extensive and challenging period of negotiation. We have continued to press for its implementation and to engage to address the concerns the British Government has expressed about its implementation. We will continue to do that and we are ready and willing to see how we might once again find an agreed path forward.

As I made clear today, however, and at every other opportunity, we can move forward on this issue only collectively and we can accept only an approach based on the fundamental principles of truth, justice and the rule of law. That is surely not too much to ask. As I am sure we each experience when we read the reports of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, or when we meet with victims from across the community who have suffered such loss, reflected last month on the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the feelings of unfairness and injustice are powerful. The case for a process to address that sense of injustice, through thorough investigation and, where possible, prosecution, is clear.

I will continue, through my engagement with victims, parties and the British Government, to push for genuine progress and to seek to bring about a process that delivers for victims and families and allows for the possibility of reconciliation. This must not be the drawing of a veil but, rather, a clear and transparent system in which families are supported to seek truth and justice and which allows for broader societal progress. I will continue to engage with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to caution strongly against unilateral action or the introduction of a general amnesty that will bring about only extended years of hardship, legal challenge and pain for many families. I will also continue to keep the Members of this House updated on that work. I thank them for their consistent support on this most important and challenging issue.

See this speech in context