John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Quinn, Mr. Ó Muirigh and Mr. Teggart. It is a bit awkward when the Seanad is sitting and we have to hop in and out on the Order of Business so I am sorry that I am coming back in late. I will be totally honest. To my utter shame, I was not hugely aware of everything that went on in Ballymurphy until the past few months. I am from a Border area as well so there is no real excuse. However, I think some of it is a generational thing because it happened 22 years before I was even born. What the witnesses and their families have done over the past 50 years in continuing to fight for justice for their family members is so important in making people of my generation aware of the huge wrongs that happened 50 years ago. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to go up against the full force of a state pushing against them to deny them justice and the rights to which they are entitled. While the situation is not the same, I am reminded of the Ludlow family in County Louth. One of their family members was murdered and they have said to me on numerous occasions that when their generation passes on another generation of the family will continue their fight for justice. There are similar tones there.

To follow up on a few of the questions asked previously, do the witnesses feel the Government has been supportive in recent years? Are there areas where we could be more supportive? In what areas might the Government need to take a stronger stance to properly support the families? Is there anything we can do as a committee or even as individual members that would be helpful in supporting them more often? To follow up on Mr. Maskey's suggestion, I would love if the committee could visit Ballymurphy as soon as restrictions allow. That would be a worthwhile endeavour.