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

I thank the Minister for his reply. I am sure he will agree that the necessary mechanisms to get the facts must be put in place. Thorough and unimpeded investigations are needed and no Government, State agency or political grouping can be allowed to continue to block a truth process. It is not acceptable that the British Government is exercising a veto, citing national security concerns, on these issues. Will the Minister inform us whether he has had an opportunity to have discussions with representative groups which advocate on behalf of victims, victims' families and survivors? In the current period of disappointment for these groups it is necessary to have the maximum level of dialogue with them to assure them their concerns and issues will not be put on the backburner, that they will be given the urgent consideration needed and an assurance that progress will be made in dealing with these long-standing issues.

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