Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Like others, I thank the delegation for visiting us and giving us their opinions. As Deputy O'Sullivan said, the issue has gone off the agenda. There are a number of reasons for that. The American presidential election is taking place and it is not a major issue of focus such as during Bill Clinton's time. He spent a long time trying to do something about it, unsuccessfully, as he did with situations in other countries, including in this part of the world. A former member of the committee, now President Michael D. Higgins, was of the opinion - I am sure remains so - that the real cause of problems was the lack of a particular area to lodge complaints, a secretariat or permanent structure to which complaints of the nature outlined could be lodged and addressed. That still has not happened. It was one of the things that did happen in this country. There was a secretariat in Hillsborough where contentious issues were put on the table and both sides had to respond in some way, whether to their own embarrassment or otherwise, but issues were aired in that fashion. I do not know what we can do to further that approach other than to do what we can as members of the European Union and to try to bring the influence of fellow members of the Union to focus on the issue.

We must also examine the extent to which we can be of benefit through the United Nations. That is highly questionable due to the attitude of countries in terms of allowing the UN to interfere in what is perceived to be an internal issue. However, we must be seen to do something that will focus on the issues and enable people who have grievances to air them in public and address them. We can have all the reports in the world and the efforts which have been outlined by the witnesses, in addition to the visits we have made in the past - it is a long time since I was first in the region and my hair was a different colour then - but it is sad that nothing has changed since. That is one of the problems. If there was a permanent secretariat to address grievances there would at least be a recognition - perhaps it would take a long time - of the existence of the other persons and their right to an existence as well.