Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the commission members and thank them for their presentation.

For many of us, the hearings into victims and legacy issues have thrown up many of the awful instances that happened during the conflict. There is no question that this is a particularly awful situation and it continues to be awful for the families with the remains of their loved ones still not found. It should not have happened. This was wrong and our focus now has to be on supporting the families and loved ones who are left behind. Thankfully, 13 of the named victims have been recovered but a further three remain missing, namely, Joseph Lynskey, Robert Nairac and Columba McVeigh. I agree with Deputy Brendan Smith's comments on using this meeting as an opportunity and a platform to make the appeal once again for anybody to bring forward information they may have in any of these cases. They should bring it forward under the certainty, which has been offered here again today, of absolute anonymity. I am sure the appeal will be made again during this meeting.

Most of these 16 cases happened before I was born. I say this because we are operating in a limited window with regard to information. Sometimes the information on the outstanding cases goes back 40 or 50 years. We have a short window in which this information can come forward. This closing window makes it critically important to have the information.

Would Mr. Knupfer accept that he has received support for his efforts from former IRA activists thus far? Would Mr. Knupfer accept that they were genuine in their efforts to help? Mr. Knupfer referred to the legislation that provides for immunity for information received but how important does he think this is in the broader campaign undertaken by the commission?

With regard to the continuing efforts to locate the remaining victims, Mr. Knupfer alluded to who those people are. Perhaps the witness could expand on what measures are currently being taken. This may offer the commission another opportunity to make an appeal for any information.