Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

This is a case that has been ongoing for some time. It is important that families, and Michael's family in particular, get answers. Once the commitments in the joint framework are translated faithfully into legislation, the legacy commission will look and feel somewhat different from what we have had in the past. The governance and oversight structures will be much clearer and stronger. They will hopefully lead to greater independence, and then investigations can be carried out to recognised standards with statutory conflict of interest provisions to address real and perceived conflicts of interest. Importantly, a statutory victims and survivors advisory group will be established, ensuring that their voices are heard and they remain very much front and centre in this overall process.

The publication and the second reading of the Bill and the amendment to the legacy Act are moving forward. I welcome the speed at which the British Government has brought forward the Bill. It demonstrates the seriousness with which the secretary of state and his colleagues are approaching this absolutely essential work. The test will be to see if it faithfully reflects the agreement that was reached in September. I have every confidence in my initial engagement with Mr. Hilary Benn MP and others that they are working to ensure that this reflects faithfully the agreement that was put in place. Most important is that we can progress with the elements of the legislation that will hopefully give answers to Michael's family and to many others as well.

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