Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. There are two areas about which I would like to speak. The Minister mentioned the many families who are still seeking truth and justice. The key word in that sentence is "still". In particular, I think of Justice for the Forgotten with regard to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and the Hooded Men. How much longer must they wait? There was great hope at the time of the 40th anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings that the answers would have been with the families at that stage, but we are approaching the 43rd anniversary. The Minister mentioned the system in Northern Ireland not having been equipped to deal with this issue. I would also suggest that there is a lack of genuine will on the part of the British authorities to really come to terms and give the answers for which people have waiting. We have put many questions to the Minister's predecessor and other Ministers about this and are told constantly that the Government is expressing its concerns, but that is not getting to the answers. These people have been waiting long enough. I have met the Hooded Men, who are in their 70s and 80s. Four of them have already passed away and we owe it to them to make more progress on their issue.

As the Minister is aware, a number of us have been involved with prisoner issues and have made many visits to Maghaberry Prison. In spite of the fact that the 2010 agreement and the stock-take agreement were reached and despite the work of the International Red Cross, the issues are still not resolved. I believe these issues have implications for Brexit depending on what way Brexit can go, such as Border issues, etc.