Mr. Austin Stack:

I thank the committee for having us in today. It was important for us to appear before the committee. This is first time that victims from the South have been able to come to the Dáil, talk to public representatives at the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and have our voices heard. This is really important to us.

I put it to the committee members that they should listen to the victims, take on board what we have said and bring it back to the Government. This applies especially around the area of truth recovery and the way we believe this should be done to ensure that the victims' voices are heard and that we are included in the process. We have no interest in cursory questions about what we think. We want actual input into the structures on how any truth recovery process is going to be organised.

The whole area of recognition and remembrance is important. I call on the committee to take on board what we have said on the matter, especially around recognising those who have lost their lives with a national memorial as well as some form of medal for the people who have worked in the Garda, the Prison Service and the Army during the course of the Troubles.

In the interests of justice we are looking for a full public inquiry into how many cases were not investigated properly at the time. We realise that some of them go back 20, 30 or 40 years but there seems to be a common thread running through many of the cases.

The question of support and services is important. I reiterate that there should be one victims and survivors service for the South, the North and the United Kingdom to which groups can go and from which they can get advice, help and support. Thank you very much.