Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wholeheartedly endorse the Chairman's proposal that we ask for a special Dáil debate and a motion to be tabled in the names of all the party and group leaders. That would elevate our work on the committee and the appeals of our guests and witnesses on the importance of this issue.

Mr. Knupfer referred to the television drama "Bloodlands". I did not see that programme. Has it damaged or affected in any way the provenance, the authenticity or the good work of the commission? Has it sent out a mixed message in any way that could damage its work and the appeal for information?

The commission gets on with its work and so on. Does it get advice or has it got assistance from, say, the Department of Justice or some of the Government agencies in having a worthwhile information programme nationally, maybe in Britain as well if that is needed, to outline the absolute urgency of this? As has been said, everybody is getting older. I am sure it gets more difficult as every day goes on. The memories fade and locations will be more difficult to search. The work therefore gets more difficult with each passing day. Apart from families and communities that have taken a particular interest and have been affected by the Troubles and that awful era of murder and mayhem, I do not know if there is a wide enough appreciation that we still have three families whose loved ones' remains have not been returned to them and that the commission's work is ongoing and of the utmost importance to all of us. Should consideration be given to a higher media profile regarding the importance of this work and the need to make further progress as soon as possible in view of the time lapse between the awful abduction and murder of these innocent people?

Is Bragan Bog and the area that has been searched preserved or fenced off at the moment, or can people go about their daily business? I refer to whoever owns the bog and visitors to that area. Is there protection of the site or is it preserved?