Mr. Kevin Mulgrew:

Briefly, on Deputy Crowe's point, this is like the debate that was signalled yesterday by John Larkin, in that while one does not talk about issues, we need to talk about the real issues. If major parties - I do not simply refer to big house unionism in this regard - across the island do not accept there was a conflict, regardless of how they come to that point, then they will not deal with issues pertaining to the legacy of the conflict. Before one starts, the debate must get around that and while people will come out with different views, that is fine. Another issue with regard to funding is there is a massive disparity of approach to former combatants. British State forces have got somewhere close to £2 billion. While no one suggests they should not get it, it is £2 billion. When one considers the PEACE money for the large numbers involved, it is welcome but it is a pittance. Moreover, I agree with Ms Avila Kilmurray that it probably is not the mechanism that should be used for this. However, given the financial state of affairs, especially in this State, there is no money there to grab and it certainly will not be allocated to dealing with political ex-prisoners in this jurisdiction. It simply will not happen. As for the PEACE IV money that is available, there has been a lot of lobbying in Brussels to try to exclude political prisoners from it. The DUP and others have been over there lobbying extensively to try to get that stopped and this also needs to be challenged because this work must continue. If it is not continued, people will still try to keep those engagements. We would continue to work with all different groupings here, with all sections of society and all communities, because there are loads of different communities and loads of different issues. However, limitations arise when one does not have staff in place or does not have programme costs and so on.

The other issue in this regard is there will be a gap between PEACE III and PEACE IV. There always has been a gap, there always are delays of a year, 18 months or two years. Where will that be picked up? In the North, the last time it was picked up by some moneys obtained from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

Obviously, that did not transmit to the Southern groups because their remit did not extent that line on the map. These are real issues.

At this stage, we are set to finish in May. We still are owed 23% of the funding and have been told we might know in February or March. That is not good enough. It will take us to the end of 2014 and PEACE IV will probably not be in place for another year to 18 months thereafter.

These are only practical issues. I am sorry, but I will stop speaking after making this point.