Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 2 December 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten

Ms Margaret Urwin:

Deputy Smith raised the issue of the three Dáil motions that were passed in 2008, 2011 and 2016. While we are very hopeful Jon Boutcher will get the information that relates to the cases that come under the umbrella of Operation Denton, we still need the information on all the other cases that are not included in that. Perhaps there could be a motion specifically on that or it could be raised with the British Government. I am not sure which would be more effective. The motions have had no effect. The first one was passed in 2008, more than 13 years ago. As Deputy Smith said, the British Government has never even responded to it. I do not know how effective another motion will be. I do not know about involving Biden or his people, or whether that would be more effective. Certainly, motions have had no effect at all.