Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. In his speech, he very much showed his personal commitment, as well as that of the Government, to reach a resolution on this issue. He has seen the unity in this House around this issue, but I believe the fact he is here tonight reiterates the strength of the Government's view. It is important.

Like others, I welcome John Finucane to this Chamber and his family and others who are viewing the debate tonight. It always strikes me when I speak to young people in youth groups and in schools that they sometimes ask why a person should get involved in politics. They ask why politics makes a difference or if I can give them an example of where something makes a difference. One of the things I often talk about is the peace process. That is something where politics really succeeded with the Good Friday Agreement. Many young people say they read about that in history. One of the big achievements on these islands in recent years has been about how so much of the past has been consigned to history. We have a long way to go and much progress to make in terms of bringing communities together, but we have gone much of the way.

I am sure many families, however, including the Finucane family, welcome what has happened. Certain aspects of that history are still all too real. I echo Senator Higgins's comments about freedom fighters and so on, and I know Senators Bacik and Martin and others referred to this. This man was a lawyer and a friend of the court. The obligation on the part of a solicitor or a barrister is to defend his or her clients. In any society, it is absolutely essential that we stand up for the rule of law and for the rights of lawyers to be able to do that, and particularly a human rights lawyer. It says much that the British Government has not kept its word and we should not look for something. As Members have said, this has been agreed already. It is a real act of bad faith that when one agrees to something one tries to renege on it, and particularly when it is Governments that have agreed to something.

I believe that we have achieved something. We have moved on enormously in these times. I strongly support the motion before the House. More important, however, the Troubles is a euphemistic word, in many ways, because behind it are so many families and victims. Their stories deserve to be heard, but more important, they deserve to know the truth. I have full faith that the Minister will continue to argue that case and argue for truth, and that the Finucane family can finally close that chapter.