Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to see everybody here again. Ms McManus is very welcome back to Leinster House. I am very proud to have served with her over the years. We did not serve in government because she retired in 2011. It is great to see her and so many good friends here.

I have spent time in Colombia. I was sent to the inauguration of the new president of that country last year. It could be felt that there was a great movement of hope. Mr. Eamon Gilmore, the EU special representative to the Colombian peace process, certainly did a lot of great work there. As I said, truth and reconciliation encouraged Colombia to build a new country. They felt they were on the right track. Regarding social, economic, political, cultural and environmental rights, they felt the one thing they needed was generosity. It is right what was said in this regard, because generosity was included. I refer to seeing representatives of the Colombian army coming out and saying what was done.

We are in a stalemate here. It is about who goes first. If the process opens up, then I think people will say we do not yet have this generosity. Where there is a future, there is the truth. Again, what has happened with the legislation that is pulling the shutters down on further investigation is very clumsy. As politicians, we need to work together, perhaps not shouting from the rooftops, but behind-the-scenes to try to get the Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs to meet with the witnesses. They represent the voice of reason and extensive experience.

One area in which I am delighted to be involved, in the context of the contributions of Mr. Donaghy and Mr. Green, is the commemoration of the First World War. A very poor signal was sent out from the Twenty-six Counties when we air-brushed nearly 50,000 men out of our history. We have come a long way in the last ten years in respect of commemoration. It sends out a powerful signal. I was in Sligo last Friday at the commemoration at the Great War Memorial Garden. There were 620 men from Sligo involved, and 126 men from Boyle, where I come from. We just air-brushed them out of history. History is not history unless it is the truth and I think we are beginning to face the truth. These are only simple things. What the witnesses are dealing with is much more difficult and much more recent. We can deal with issues after generations, but we must deal with them as quickly as possible.

It stated that "Former combatants would include members of the security forces and paramilitary organisations". What is meant by the statement that people would get an amnesty? I refer to the context of former combatants and to there being engagement "with those who have suffered by their actions". Could the witnesses elaborate a little on this point? As was said, Derry and Ballymurphy have been successful breakthroughs, but we need many more. If there is any way in which we can assist, cross-party, in what the witnesses are doing, because their organisation is the right vehicle to undertake this process, I, for one, would be only too delighted to do so, as would, I am sure, all the members of the committee. I wish the witnesses good luck and wish them the best. I thank them for all their great work.