Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegation. It is hard to believe it is 15 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed. For the majority of people, the Agreement brought an end to war. Many viewed it as a triumph of dialogue and politics over violent conflict. At that time, people spoke of inclusion as opposed to exclusion, making a new beginning, looking at things differently and trying to address the hurt that many people suffered. Unfortunately, what we have heard from our guests is that we have not even agreed on the definition of a victim. This is part of the difficulty. We heard, for example, that the media focused on one aspect of the Eames-Bradley process but politicians also did so. I do not know why some politicians do not want the issue discussed. A dialogue needs to take place and we need a structure for examining the past. While we cannot change the past, it is pulling us back and preventing us from moving forward. Some parties and individuals continue to look to the past, even if that is understandable.

Anniversaries and commemorations are taking place virtually on a weekly basis. In addition to the large commemorations, victims will also mark occasions such as the anniversaries and birthdays of loved ones who died. This issue is not being addressed.

The hierarchy of victims is an issue because we cannot agree on who is a victim. It is clear from the comments on who is acceptable as a victim that there is a hierarchy of victims. This is all part of the discussion that needs to take place.

I assume the organisations before us are trying to achieve a number of objectives. It is important, for example, that the hurt inflicted in the past is not repeated. We heard from our guests that threats continue. Politicians on this island and in these islands need to address this issue.

We were promised a new beginning but a number of outstanding issues have not been addressed. This and the absence of an inclusive society are causing hurt. Ms Morgan represents the disappeared. That her family was treated differently within the broader group of families of the disappeared demonstrates differences in the treatment of victims. We need to establish some mechanism to allow people to raise individual cases. People looked at the South Africa model, yet some people in South Africa had difficulties with the truth commission process there. Unless we devise some structure or platform for addressing this issue, we will return to the issue in 15 years and people will still feel hurt about their families and loved ones. This creates difficulties in the process. Clearly, work needs to be done on the victims issue and I hope the Haass recommendations will allow people to find common ground.

We can learn from the past. We hear that people thought the conflict was over but tension and conflict remains. The onus is on all of us to produce solutions to this problem. I assume Ms Morgan hopes that her appearance at this meeting will trigger a memory in someone who may then come forward with information. It is important that the joint committee reiterate that any information passed to the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains cannot be used in a court of law or transmitted to any other agency and that those passing on such information have absolute immunity in respect of such information. That message must go out from this meeting. Representatives of the independent commission met the joint committee to outline the ongoing work of the commission. Its work depends on those who have information on the disappeared providing such information. We all appeal to those who have information to please come forward.