Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House to speak about this most important matter. I welcome the family of councillor Patsy Kelly. Much has been said by the Minister and by those who have already spoken. Many people in the South speak about the North of Ireland. I refer to people who have never visited and have never been across the Border in their lives. The only thing they can tell one about Northern Ireland is that the Giant's Causeway is there, and yet they speak with great authority. I must say that since Deputy Coveney took over as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade he has been extremely sensitive in the work he has done in Northern Ireland. He has been forthright and honest in his dealings with the North. It is disappointing that there is no Assembly in the North of Ireland. It is particularly disappointing that the last attempt collapsed, allegedly over the Irish language, when in east Belfast some 600 people from the unionist community are studying the Irish language. It is one of the paradoxes that exists in the North of Ireland, and it is rather sad.

There are unanswered questions on all sides. The Minister put it really well when he said there is no hierarchy when we are talking about death and murder. I fully support the opening up of information on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and finding out who was behind them. I fully support also finding out exactly what went on at Ballymurphy. In regard to the Bloody Sunday findings, it is rather disappointing that one soldier has been identified out of all those involved on that day. Having served in the military myself, I question the senior people in charge that day. What decisions were made? What orders were given? Who took decisions? Was there panic on the day? Did somebody lose control? It seems we will never get the answers to those questions, but one soldier will face a court. For many people that is not enough.

I cannot begin to imagine what those who were taken out of their houses or forced into corners felt in the last few minutes of their lives. I refer to those on both sides, because there were atrocities on both sides.I cannot begin to understand the pain of the Kelly family who are here today. Probably at this stage, all they want to know is what happened.

We were fortunate recently to have had two visits to Northern Ireland during which Senator Ó Donnghaile brought us around. We met people who simply want an answer, to know what happened and the truth. They are not necessarily vying for blood or for people to go to jail. They just want to know the truth. There is probably a strong case for some sort of a truth commission, similar to what took place in South Africa, where people can come forward and tell the story as they saw it.

There are great people on both sides in Northern Ireland trying to bring communities together. As we face into what is likely to be an unsettled period in British-Irish relations with Brexit approaching, it is extremely important we support those civic groups which want to move forward and find a solution. There has even been talk on the unionist side about a 32-county republic and where they see that in ten, 15 or 20 years' time. I do not believe any of them would be running for a Border poll now but they accept that in the future that is the likely outcome. Accordingly, we must build relationships. The Government is doing much of that already.

Much was done in the Good Friday Agreement. Then, collectively, we clapped ourselves on the back and said that is it, we have peace in our time and everything is going well. There are academics in Northern Ireland, however, who feel that the right to an Irish passport is not enough and that we have not bestowed full citizenship on those who obtain an Irish passport. They do not have any rights in elections on this side of the Border or have any control over who gets elected to what. On the southern side of the Border we have a significant amount of work to do.

I urge the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to keep the pressure on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings issue. Nothing would suit more than to have a reputable member of an international judiciary review those files and release whatever information is available. I honestly do not believe, however, that will be allowed to happen in the UK.

The war that was fought in the North of Ireland was a dirty war. Dirty wars have fault on all sides. In my view, there were three sides. There were the nationalists and unionists but there were those employed in official positions on both sides of the Border. We hear much about collusion on one side but there was collusion on both sides. It should not be forgotten that two RUC men were executed on their way home from this side of the Border. It must not be forgotten that there was collusion on both sides of the Border and that it was a dirty war. That is part of the problem in trying to clean up what is left.

People are entitled to answers but we must walk steadily as we seek to get those answers. Our goal should be to bring communities together. The only way to solve the problem of bringing communities together is if we provide answers to those who lost their loved ones. I am not 100% convinced that people want to see court cases, jail and all that for the atrocities carried out. There may be some. However, history shows in South Africa, for example, that people just want answers and not to vie for the blood of those who committed atrocities. There is a willingness on the part of the Government and every other party to meet the families concerned and to listen to their stories. It is a pity that some of the unionist families do not come down here more often and talk about their pain and hurt. We need to hear all sides and find a solution.

I will support everything the Government does to move matters forward. I look forward to the day we have an Assembly again in Northern Ireland and interparliamentary groups where we can have open and frank discussions with one another. I hope to see all of these come in the near future. I will not criticise anybody for not being in the Assembly. I do not live there and I do not have to deal with the issues which prevent them from going from one side to the other. I pray, however, that they will find a way to sit and talk together. I spoke earlier today to Deputy Adams. The risks men like him, Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley took, particularly on the nationalist side to meet their unionist brothers on the other side, took fierce courage. We should never ever question it. I ask that we do everything to keep it going.