Mr. Paul Maskey:

I thank the witnesses for coming in today. I have heard, and met with, a number of them before, so I know many of the issues that are being dealt with. I would like to commend the witnesses and their organisations on the work they do and have been involved in over the years. I wish them every success in the future. With regard to dealings with the NIO or the British Government on coming forward with files or otherwise, what has been the response? Has it been in any way fruitful? Have they given any times or any thoughts on some of that information being handed over? Some of that goes back to the Stormont House Agreement. There is no reason this should not be up and running. It is simple. I suppose what one has is the DUP and the British Government blaming each other. The DUP will say it is up to the British Government and that it can release the money but the British Government will say it is not cross-party because the DUP does not agree to it. That is the wrong view. If we are to work through and do a report on this particular matter, hopefully that will put pressure on those who are reneging on making sure that justice is done. As Senator Mark Daly said, and I meet many victims in my own constituency, family members are dying and it is a big issue for them. In some cases, some of these families have fought for over 40 years to try to get justice for their loved ones and it is really difficult for them. The families will tell one that the grandchildren are now looking at this and are taking this forward. We need to get the legacy issue resolved.

I commend the witnesses again on their work because they will get this resolved. I have no doubt about that, with the work and commitment they have put in up to now, and will continue to put in. My questions for the witnesses are on whether there has been any correspondence or dealings with the NIO and the British Government and on what the response has been.