Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his detailed response and welcome the ongoing work on the matter. It is important that the historical investigations unit be established as soon as possible as we are all aware of different cases - murders, bombings, loss of life and terrible injuries that have been caused to people - which have not been properly investigated.

We hope the establishment of the historical investigations unit will ensure that the British authorities comply with their obligations to ensure thorough and full investigations.

The Minister referred to the legislative work that follows on from the Stormont House Agreement. My recollection is that the Minister outlined in replies I received from him that the British Government gave a commitment to enact the necessary legislation to establish the historical investigations unit in 2016. Will the Minister raise the issue with the Secretary of State to ensure it is part of the legislative programme that the new British Government puts before parliament next week, in order that there will be no delay in implementing the legislation as soon as possible?

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