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

I thank the Minister for his detailed response.

The Minister has had a number of meetings, and earlier today a number of Members of the Oireachtas from all political parties met with the group Justice for the Forgotten to discuss the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and other atrocities. If the Minister and his Department can continue to engage with the different representative groups in the aftermath of the Fresh Start agreement, it is be important to reassure the groups that these issues will continue to be given the attention they need and that there can be no moving away from this issue until progress is achieved.

Elections will be held, both North and South, in 2016, and we all are fully aware of the additional difficulties in making progress on important and sensitive issues leading up to election time. Both Governments and the five Northern Ireland Executive parties must give these issues the highest priority this month and in January.

For Northern Ireland to truly move forward, we need to put in place mechanisms that deal with the legacies of the past. Victims and survivors, be they of atrocities committed North or South, have a basic entitlement to the truth. The most evil of crimes and large-scale murder were witnessed on this island, perpetrated by paramilitary organisations, and some British state forces were involved in collusion in the most heinous of crimes.

For our society, and particularly for the families concerned, the truth must be forthcoming. The necessary mechanisms have to be put in place to get the facts. Thorough and unimpeded investigations are needed, and no Government or State agencies or political groupings can be allowed to continue to block the truth process. The British Government's invoking what is in reality a veto is no longer acceptable, and I am glad the Minister referred to the unanimous motions of this House, passed in 2008 and 2011, on the need to give access to the papers and files relating to the horrific murder of so many in May 1974 in both Dublin and Monaghan. This is an issue, along with many others, that needs to be on the agenda in every meeting with the British Government and members of that Government.

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