Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government has consistently called on the British Government to face up to its responsibilities in regard to what happened in the past. We have made it absolutely clear that an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane should take place. We have also said time and again both here and elsewhere that the Ballyymurphy families should have the investigation they seek. The Government has made this clear on numerous occasions.

To return to the broader issue, we are all, undoubtedly, committed to a peaceful future for everybody on the island. In that context, I recommend the mechanisms in the Stormont House Agreement - the historical investigations unit and the independent commission on information retrieval - which are all part of a number of initiatives that need to be taken to allow the cases of families who lost members or were involved in other events to be investigated.

Sinn Féin also has a role to play, as does the broader republican movement. The families of the disappeared also need justice. The IRA must also face up to its role in covering up child abuse. The republican movement must address that issue. Máiria Cahill, for example, is entitled to justice for what happened to her. We should use the mechanisms available to move all of these issues forward, issues which have deeply affected people affected by the Troubles.

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