Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I join the Deputies in commending Bellaghy GAA and the GAA more widely. The president of the GAA, Jarlath Burns, attended the meeting with the Brown family when they came to see me. Sean Brown was a good, decent man locking up his GAA club when he was brutally murdered 28 years ago. Not only have no answers been given to his family and no Article 2-compliant investigation established, there have been clear active efforts to suppress information. It is also very clear from the rulings of the High Court and the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland that a full public inquiry is required and the involvement of agents of the UK state with regard to the murder of Sean Brown needs to be answered for. The family needs those answers. The Taoiseach and I are ad idem on this. I am quite sure the Taoiseach has raised it with the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach and I have discussed it on a number of occasions. The Irish Government feels very strongly about this. At the moment, it is a statement of fact there is no available mechanism that is Article 2 human rights-compliant other than a public inquiry. Bridie Brown is in her late eighties. She deserves answers about the murder of her husband.

I will continue, as will the Government, to make that point at every opportunity in our engagements, including all our engagements with the UK Government.

As regards legacy more broadly, I hope that in the coming weeks we can reach a framework such that the two Governments can say, "This is a good way forward on the issue of legacy across this island." That will be a very significant moment for victims and families. I met a number of victims' groups yesterday on this. I met all the parties in Northern Ireland on this last Monday in Stormont, and we are working intensively to see if we can find a way forward.

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