Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Other witnesses were here a few weeks ago representing Amnesty International. There expressed grave concern about the UK Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which Senator Blaney has already mentioned. They stated, Amnesty had "grave concern about and opposition to the Troubles Bill, which would institute a de factoamnesty for grave human rights violations committed during the conflict." They said the Bill "fails to comply with the UK’s human rights obligations; it is a significant interference in the justice system; it undermines the rule of law; and it will set a dangerous precedent internationally" because it would signal to other states that they too can give this sort of amnesty as well.

Has Mr. Bruton had an opportunity to contact the relatives of the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings or the Dundalk bombings or, in the case of my local area, the Belturbet bombing in which two young people lost their lives and for which the 50th anniversary will be marked in a few weeks, to talk to them in respect of the British Government's intention to grant immunity to the English intelligence and security agencies and their loyalist murder squad allies from prosecution for these atrocities? One might think 50 years is a long time and people will have moved on. It is not true. The hurt does not diminish. We had a number of witnesses before the committee who had lost relatives in 1976 and it was evident from their evidence that the hurt is still there, and they want answers and justice. Has Mr. Bruton spoken to any of the families of victims about the amnesty Bill to which there is clear opposition? Has he used his role in Europe to advance the rights of Irish citizens on this matter?