Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Lost Lives, which chronicles all the 3,700 people who were killed in the conflict, is a truly invaluable resource. In documenting each name, life and family, it is a work of both extraordinary scholarship and great empathy and inspires that empathy in all those who read it. Although those lives were tragically cut short, they will always be remembered.

The violence of the Troubles cuts across all sections of society regardless of background, age, gender or religion, inflicting an appalling 30-year toll. While at times deeply sad and unsettling, Lost Livesserves as a powerful reminder of the dark events of our recent history and demonstrates how crucial it is to ensure the successful and sustained operation of all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.

The book has also been given a new audience in a renewed lease of life with the production of the documentary by film-makers Mr. Michael Hewitt and Mr. Dermot Lavery. Last year, former Senator Ian Marshall organised a screening of the "Lost Lives" documentary in Leinster House. It is encouraging to note that Members from across all sides of both Houses the Oireachtas were present on that occasion, reflecting the cross-party co-operation approach to the peace process founded on the Good Friday Agreement, which is so important.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has met families who have lost loved ones in the most appalling of circumstances, bombings and shootings that are dark stains on our history such as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the Kingsmill massacre, the Ballymurphy killings, the Birmingham bombings and others. They were attacks for which there could never be justification.

One thing that unifies all families who have lost loved ones in these terrible circumstances, whatever their background or identity, is a wish that no other family should have to suffer as they do. The peace we realised with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 must be protected and sustained, come what may. The importance of acknowledging, respecting and effectively dealing with the tragic legacy of the past cannot be underestimated. So many families lost loved ones during the Troubles and are entitled to support in finding truth and justice as part of the healing of the wounds of that conflict, and as part of building reconciliation.

The Government also facilitates the remembrance of lives lost during the Troubles through a range of projects and initiatives supported by the reconciliation fund. These include, among many others, the annual day of reflection promoted by the Healing Through Remembering group to facilitate quiet remembrance of the impact of conflict on lives across these islands, and the important work of the conflict archive on the Internet, CAIN, at Ulster University, which provides a comprehensive chronology of the Troubles and a permanent reminder of the tragic events which saw so many lose their lives.

The unforgettable message of Lost Livesand the terrible record of violence, loss and suffering it portrays so movingly is "Never again". The peace we have found through the Good Friday Agreement is the only fitting legacy for each of the lost lives that are documented in this book. It is important that this book, such a vital resource in that process of remembering, is protected and made accessible. While I understand the original publisher is no longer in operation, the Government would be happy to explore how we can be helpful, perhaps through a collaborative effort, in ensuring this hugely valuable work remains available for the future.

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