Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think that has been very clear. I acknowledge that Mr. Yeates has apologised sincerely for the offence he caused and I accept that his apology is genuine. I would ask Mr. Finucane, whom I have known for some years, to accept that. I believe it is genuine.

Last night, I was watching a programme about the Civil War, explaining what really happened and how it affected people. I saw a man in his seventies in tears talking about a relative who had been murdered during the Civil War for which he had no closure. This happened 100 years ago. It is an indication of how much people on all sides in the North, particularly victims, still suffer. Anything I have heard from Mr. Finucane today is about peace, reconciliation and getting at the truth. That is what we all want to work for.

There will be a debate on 1 June in the Dáil on our report, which we published recently. The committee might put forward some ideas for that debate - issues on which we can all agree, namely, getting at the truth and getting closure for families in particular. The key thing for me everywhere I have been involves the victims on all sides who have suffered. They must get closure. As was pointed out, time is very limited, people are dying and information is very difficult to come by when people are no longer there.

A comment was made about Irish families in the past. Two brothers on my father's side fought in the War of Independence while a member of my mother's family was in the RAF and was killed on the last day of the Second World War. We spoke about the two men who fought in the War of Independence but we did not talk about the other man at all when we were growing up. This goes to the heart of some of the things that were mentioned. Sometimes in the nationalist tradition, which I am strongly from, there is a parallel relationship with England and the British Army. It involves acknowledging that and looking to the future. If we can find the solution and get the Executive in the North up and running, that is what we want. Anything that brings closure and peace to people is hugely important.