Joe O'Reilly (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. Their presentations were very powerful and evocative. On the last point made by Mr. Brady, it occurred to me that here in the Republic, when somebody has a very particular, serious illness, unless there is a huge income involved, they will get what is knows as a discretionary medical card. In other words, they get free health services. It seems to me that, even within the context of welfare cuts - which nobody wants - and the restriction of budgets, there should still be provision for victims of violence. I know when we go into the area of victims suffering from trauma, it is more amorphous and difficult to pin down. Certainly those who have physical conditions arising from having been direct victims of violence, who are wheelchair bound or whatever, should get discretionary full health services, as they would if they had a very serious illness. Is that the case, and if it is not the case, could we pursue that for the witnesses? They should get any adaptation of houses as well.

The witnesses seem very negative about what the Stormont House Agreement has done for the legacy issues of victims. Do they see any good in it at all, and what improvements would they want?

My next question arises from Deputy Conlan's excellent suggestion about coming South with this story.

It is very important that a certain cohort of people in their teens know the realities of war, violence and all that goes with them. Transition year is a wonderful year that is in virtually all second-level schools. It is after the junior certificate at a very formative time in young people's lives. I formally suggest that there be a link-up with the education sector down here and that someone among the representatives visit all transition year classes - certainly in the Border counties - because that is where one finds the young people from all backgrounds. It is one group that involves everyone. I would be interested in hearing practical responses by the witnesses.