Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and wish both Ministers well in their new roles in this Dáil. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and I had a similar exchange on this matter in February 2015 and he said then, as he has just said now, that he has raised the issue with the Secretary of State. The Minister's reply then was "she would consider afresh how the British Government can respond to the Dáil motions". Members are now into their third motion, with the first passed in 2008, the second in 2011 and the third in 2016. My question is: how long does it take to consider something? Theresa Villiers has now taken more than a year on this matter. Members are aware that the Taoiseach has raised repeatedly this question with David Cameron and I will cite a recent article in which he stated this must be "adequately addressed if we are to achieve a genuinely reconciled society". It is the height of disrespect on the part of the British Prime Minister to treat the Irish Prime Minister in such a way, that is, in spite of the Taoiseach repeatedly raising this matter, no progress is being made. Members are aware of this and are aware that through the Justice for the Forgotten group, the families have been waiting for more than 40 years for these answers.

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