Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Ritchie, Ms Cadwallader and members of the families. I do not want to go over what was said but I support what Mr. Murphy said in regard to funding for Justice for the Forgotten. If our sincerity means anything, we must allow the group to continue its work without concern about finance. It will continue that work, irrespective of funding. Its determination in regard to this sad piece of history is wonderful. It is great that people care and understand the trauma experienced by and worries faced by the families. We must ensure funding is put in place and that we make the strongest recommendation possible to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to allow the group to continue its good work without any concerns. When one is doing research and so on, one must be able to hire people and incur costs. All those things are pragmatic and they must be addressed. I hope this committee agrees to make those representations in order that those concerns of the group will be put to bed once and for all.

People spoke about Ms Cadwallader's wonderful book. It is wonderful in that it underpins the thoughts and ideas which were out there. Further pressure can be applied on the British Government by those in a position to do so, such as ourselves, ministerial committees, etc, to get it to assist in regard to any records or otherwise it has. Ms Cadwallader has underpinned the truth. That is what these meetings and this committee are about. They give people the opportunity to state their case and enable us to move on. There is no use in us just listening. We must take action as well and apply pressure on Departments or Ministers to move this on to the next stage, which is the British Government making these records and so on available. I hope we will move this on to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and that we will ensure the concerns about the funding of the group are not in any way undermined and are resolved.