Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. I regret there was some criticism yesterday on the Order of Business of the terms under which we are taking this item. The Taoiseach made a reasonable statement in that regard. He also set the tone for this debate when he said the debate was on a matter of the greatest national importance. He went on to say it was about a series of atrocities perpetrated on innocent people in our country, including the bombings of May 1994 in Dublin and Monaghan, which saw the greatest loss of life in a single day during the Troubles. The Taoiseach said the debate is about murder, pure and simple, responsibility for those murders, justice for victims and how victims and survivors were and are treated and that while it is certainly about the past, it is also about the future.

The Taoiseach was accurate in what he said and I support him in that. It is vital we have this debate and that while we deal with some issues of the past, we also look forward. This message was borne out for me several times recently. When I was appointed by the Taoiseach as a member of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, an appointment I was pleased to accept, I was welcomed at my first meeting in Oxford by the joint chairpersons, our own Deputy Niall Blaney and Mr. Paul Murphy, the former Northern Secretary. We spent some of the time at that session reminding ourselves, as Members from all the parliaments on these islands, that we had moved on from the past and from a time when people were killed and maimed and now need to look forward. This very much sums up for me where we are at with regard to this debate.

The effect of the message also came home to me when I drove from Tallaght through the North in the autumn of last year to Armagh to act as a delegate to the SDLP conference. I found my journey a remarkable experience, although some colleagues who travel that road often may not understand the effect it had on me. I had not crossed the Border for some time and hesitated as I entered Keady, expecting to be stopped, but of course I was not. Simple changes like that show how we have moved on. It is important that in debates such as this we are not afraid to point out that things are more normal now. There are still some who do not agree with our peaceful ideals and we must deal with them.

Deputy Crawford mentioned the terrible murder of Paul Quinn. I spoke to a number of people about the murder at the SDLP conference and at the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body meeting. I also raised Dáil questions on the matter. I express my solidarity and sympathy to those affected by that horrendous murder. I offer my sympathy to all the victims of violence over the past 30 odd years. I appreciate the contact I have received from victims' families, including some in my constituency, in recent months. It is only right that we articulate the concerns of these people and I would be happy to be part of that process.

The extent of the historic breakthrough that has been achieved in Northern Ireland is remarkable. Since May 2007, we have shared devolved Government in Northern Ireland, commanding support from both communities and all political parties. I am glad that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, representatives of two communities which had long held opposing visions for the North's constitutional future, are working together effectively in the interests of all the people of Northern Ireland. I understand disagreements are worked out through negotiation and compromise. It is clear that centuries-old divisions are being left behind, which is very welcome.

I welcome in particular the establishment of the Consultative Group on the Past and the Northern Ireland Victims Commission, which was established by former British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain. I am not sure whether I should send him good wishes, but all politicians should be sorry when they see another politician in some bother. While not everyone will agree, he made a contribution. I understand the purpose of the consultative group is to seek views from across the community on the best way to deal with the legacy of the Troubles. The group is co-chaired by Lord Robin Eames and Denis Bradley, people we know well.

The Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, have welcomed the establishment of the group. The Government has consistently stated that dealing with the past is crucial and requires our ongoing attention. It has also stressed the importance of wide consultation, as well as adequately addressing the needs of victims, something I support strongly. The Taoiseach met the consultative group during its visit to Dublin last November. I understand the Minister for Foreign Affairs will meet the group as its work continues.

Many issues will fall under the remit of the group's agenda and I welcome two in particular. There are always issues with regard to commemorations. A constituent of mine, for example, contacts me regularly to suggest the famine should be commemorated, which is something I support. I understand there is a proposal on the table for a day of remembrance or reflection, as suggested by the healing through remembering group. This would be a worthwhile exercise and I hope it will be undertaken as a joint North-South initiative. In my community and public life I have done much networking with Northern politicians and as a result I feel it is important we do this.

There was a little criticism about this debate and how it is being handled. I have listened to much of the debate here and feel it is right we in this Parliament should take the opportunity to voice our concerns about these matters. Deputy Finian McGrath and I were members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights when the Barron report and other reports were furnished. I sat through much of that horrendous evidence. There are issues in the North but there are also issues in the South where there is a need for closure. The Taoiseach was correct yesterday to put it up to the British Government again to do something about this. I recall Paul Murphy, when he was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, delicately declining an invitation for him and his predecessors to appear before the justice committee. That was a pity. However, contacts in that regard should continue. I am pleased to have had this opportunity to make a brief contribution to the debate.

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