Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for needing to leave the meeting during Ms Urwin's submission, but I had received it in advance. I thank her for the work done by Justice for the Forgotten.

I am encouraged that the Barron inquiry provided a great deal of new information and has supported Justice for the Forgotten. What more could this committee do? I am a member of the North-South Interparliamentary Association. If we could be helpful, please let us know.

The Troubles were difficult times. Our State did not forget, but it occasionally did not want to remember much of what happened. The Dublin-Monaghan bombings are not remembered in the way the State should. My observation includes myself, in that I may have been remiss. Sometimes, we have not been sent invitations. This matter should be further up the list. More than 50 innocent people died on that day, but they have been forgotten.

I thank Ms Cadwallader for her work. It was shocking. We have met Mr. Eugene Reavey and I am familiar with the Glenanne area. When one drives through Markethill or Bessbrook, the nearest village is Camlough. Within a mile of each other across fields are two completely different communities. Given that such murder and bloodshed occurred in small rural communities across the island, it is shocking that this information is only coming out now.

Has the HET been helpful and where should it go? It has been established, but I have heard that some of its investigations have not been helpful.

I come from Boyle, County Roscommon, which has not been at the coalface of the Troubles. One tries to understand them, but it is difficult to do so, as one did not go through them. Forgive where I am coming from. We all want to see solace and truth for the island and its people who suffered. What would be the best way forward? Would it be a truth commission? Politicians are grappling with this issue and want to do what is right.

I thank our guests for their submissions. As Ms Ritchie stated, they have shone a light where we have all sometimes feared to tread, as doing so could be inconvenient.