Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to contribute on this timely and poignant debate. In my brief time as a Member, I have never been more struck by a debate where there has been such a unified opinion across the Chamber as well as such genuine compassion for the people at the heart of this scandal, the bereaved families of those ten innocent people who were murdered in Ballymurphy 50 years ago. That they had to wait so long to get vindication and justice for their relatives is a damning indictment of everyone involved in the political system across these islands.

I was struck by the address made by the Taoiseach at the outset of the debate. It was compassionate, sincere and detailed, and went through each of the incidents. It was in direct contrast with what we have seen from the British Prime Minister since the results of the inquest were revealed. To use the words of the lawyer for the families involved, his response has been "cack-handed".

We all have a responsibility not just to speak in this Chamber, but to use every lever at our disposal to ensure that our counterparts across the water know the importance of seeing a full and public state apology from the British Prime Minister.

Furthermore, there should be individual apologies to each and every one of the families of the victims of this absolute travesty of justice that took place so many years ago. We have opportunities to act in the coming weeks and months. For those of us who remember the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, it is important to note that there will be a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in June. We all engage with political colleagues throughout Great Britain at various political, governmental and parliamentary levels. It is important that we reflect the absolutely sombre mood of this Chamber on this matter and make sure that message is put across. It is clear that the result of the inquest was meant to provide some amount of relief and dignity for the families involved. Unfortunately, the political response in the United Kingdom has simply done more to increase the level of trauma and upset that has been lingering for decades.

This leads on to the next step in the reconciliation process across these islands. If we are to have truly meaningful engagement and reconciliation, we must have an open and fair approach to issues such as legacy in order to ensure justice is done for all victims throughout the period in question. Colleagues across the Chamber have rightly said that we are very concerned by the political movements in Great Britain, particularly in England, that would deprive families of the levels of justice that the Good Friday and Stormont House Agreements afford. I was struck by the motion passed in the US Senate last night reaffirming its commitment not just to the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements but also the Stormont House Agreement and, indeed, the Northern Irish protocol to the withdrawal agreement. This is something that is often lost in the discussion on these issues, if there is a discussion, in Westminster. We often have to rely on Northern Irish Members of Parliament taking their seats or on a number of sympathetic Members from the likes of the Scottish National Party or others who have specific connections to Ireland to ensure that at least some semblance of a nationalist voice is heard. The vast majority of English MPs simply want nothing to do with this.

We are dedicating an entire debate in this Parliament to the findings of the Ballymurphy inquest for very good reason. It is important that we do so and that the Seanad had a similar debate last week. I was very struck by how my colleague, Senator Currie, methodically read out the names of every single victim, something that has also been done by a number of Deputies today, including the Taoiseach and Deputy McDonald. It is important that we remember them not just as details or statistics but as brothers, sisters, children, parents and loved ones who were slaughtered in the streets and were absolutely innocent. We are not seeing that happening in the Palace of Westminster. We need to be quite firm with our friends across Great Britain that all of us have responsibilities to the victims. If we want to move forward in a new relationship across this island and across these islands, we have to be clear that nothing can be swept under the carpet. That happens with both state actors and non-state actors. We must not glorify the atrocities and we must not ignore them. We must be open and frank and put the victims at the heart of the pursuit of justice. There are many more victims who are deserving of having that level of truth, justice and, crucially, respect shown to them. Respecting the principles of the Good Friday and Stormont House Agreements cannot simply be a temporary plaything. It must define everything we do politically on this island and across these islands in terms of developing relationships and providing an element of succour and closure for victims.

I pay credit to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, who will wrap up the debate. I commend every Member of the House who has engaged consistently with the families of the victims of the Ballymurphy massacre. I understand Deputy McDonald was in Belfast last week with Senator Ó Donnghaile and others. That engagement must continue until the families truly believe their case has been heard, justice has been delivered and the truth has won out. It is a challenge for us all not simply to end the discussion this evening but to continue it in an open and compassionate manner. We must not seek to score political points on matters that are parallel to this debate but, instead, try to put passionate reconciliation at the heart of our discussions, understanding that many people were hurt and many are still waiting for justice. The people who are most important in this debate are the ten innocent victims who were slaughtered 50 years ago. They are the people whom we in this House must put front and centre of the remaining interventions on this debate.

As we move forward to ensure proper justice is delivered, the Government must take a considered, firm and consistent position. It must ensure the discussion is not ended in a couple of weeks or months but underlines all our engagements with our British colleagues. I really want to underline that the announcement last week provides an opportunity for clarity on what actions will be taken as we go forward. The responsibilities of the Government are quite clear in this regard and it will be held to account by Opposition and Government Deputies equally. I conclude by remembering the ten innocent victims and urging that we always keep the sensitivities and grief of their family members at the heart of all our discussions.

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