Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will. Both the Tánaiste and I met Dr. Haass recently in Dublin. He was invited to come here by the Executive and look at the question of flags, parades and the past. He has gone through a listening process and hopes to conclude his engagement, discussions and recommendations by Christmas. It is only appropriate that there be rational and appropriate discussion. It may well be that at the end of the day there can be some movement on the issue of flags and parades. There is certainly a possibility of movement in that regard.

The question of the past is different because it deals with victims on all sides of the atrocities committed. It would not be helpful for me to comment on the personal submission made by the Attorney General in Northern Ireland. I must respect his views as the holder of a statutory office in that context. It would be difficult for families on either side in what was a dark time in Northern Ireland if we were to follow that advice and put in place what the Northern Attorney General has recommended and were to find, subsequently, incontrovertible DNA evidence of the involvement of a person or persons in a killing on either side. As the Deputy knows, families want closure and there is always a yearning to find out what happened, who gave the instructions and why it was done.

I do not object to having a proper debate in the House or at the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement on these matters. We have given Dr. Haass our full support in the efforts he is making following the invitation he received to deal with the issue of flags, parades and the past. I have offered him every assistance the Government can give him in his work. I offered the same to the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister at the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh recently.

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