Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the broader issue of truth one is always in a bit of difficulty when raising specific cases but there are responsibilities and an onus resting on the Irish Government also. Last week, for example, in the Seanad I raised the issue of the Crowley report into the murder of Aidan McAnespie. This report was carried out by the then Deputy Garda Commissioner Eugene Crowley. The Irish Government is refusing to release the report, even up to this point, despite calls from former presidents of the GAA and from Aidan McAnespie's family.

On the broader issues, Deputies Maureen O'Sullivan and Brendan Smith have referred to the devolved remit. While we all want to see a successful conclusion and outcome to the current talks, the key mechanisms around Stormont House and Fresh Start are there. The legislative responsibility, however, for those issues rests in the first instance with the Government. Even in the absence of an agreement around the current talks, the Government is able to legislate for, and enable, those mechanisms that everyone has broadly agreed are the best way forward at this stage. It is useful to reflect on that.

I apologise in advance if this next question was already asked or referred to while I was out of the room. The recent Haggarty case throws up some particularly worrying issues. It is a concern given the alleged offences - not alleged now I suppose - of Gary Haggarty and the handling of him as a special branch agent. There is a culpability and responsibility in respect of the consequences for those handlers outside of the political sphere. This further reinforces the complex and comprehensive nature of legacy, truth recovery and justice for people within the judicial and legal world. When someone who is clearly identified as a serial killer and an agent of crown forces is given such a lenient verdict in that regard, and when the people who handled him and were aware of all that go scot free, what sort of message does this send to other victims? When we talk of trans-generational issues of concern, I imagine there is also the issue of re-traumatising victims, not just of Haggarty but also victims elsewhere who are viewing that case.