Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Taoiseach for that response. He is aware that Mr. Paterson was interested in this question prior to his appointment as Northern Ireland Secretary of State. I would like the Taoiseach to raise with the UK Prime Minister the economic progress of the island of Ireland.

Bearing in mind the publication of the Saville report, its clarity and the apology by the UK Prime Minister to the people for what happened on Bloody Sunday, the fact that the inquiry cost £200 million speaks for itself. Since the publication of the report, there has been much comment on what should happen in respect of other incidents that occurred, both North and South. I do not always agree with Deputy Ó Caoláin but we were party to the all-party motion, which I still support, and I share his views in that regard.

Does the Government have a view on whether there should be a system or facility to bring a sense of closure in respect of other incidents? I am not saying there should be an equivalent of the Saville inquiry in each case, but one should remember that sorrow and pain were inflicted on hundreds of people on both sides because of the loss of loved ones. In a number of these cases, people are still exceptionally sensitive about the fact that they do not know where the remains of their loved ones are or about the difficulties that arose because of their loss. Does the Government believe there should be an international view on this or some mechanism whereby people involved could tell their story, or have it told? Is it the view that there should be other inquiries? The cost could be horrendous. We want to focus on the future while remembering the past, which is what the Taoiseach was saying in respect of the commemorative events. Does the Government have a view on how issues of recent years, other than that of Bloody Sunday, should be dealt with?

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