Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for his remarks, which are well noted. The position of the Government is clear and consistent. No matter where you are from, whether the shot was fired by a state actor or a non-state actor, everyone deserves access to justice. Every family deserves the truth on what happened to their loved one. The truth cannot be hidden away or written off as something that happened too long ago.

The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has underlined in his regular contacts with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, that we must make progress on this issue and the approach must collectively be agreed between the two Governments and the political parties, and the Taoiseach has conveyed this message directly to Prime Minister Johnson. Indeed, in my bilateral engagements this week, I will also be making that point. I assure the Cathaoirleach and Seanadóirí anseo inniu that the Government will continue to engage with the British Government on this and to pursue all possible avenues until a resolution is found.

As the Senator has rightly said, there is no hierarchy of victims. Specifically in the case of Councillor Fullerton who was murdered in this jurisdiction, it is a matter of regret that no person has been convicted of this brutal murder. We have no Statute of Limitations in respect of crimes of that nature and the Garda investigation remains open and active. Any new information from any quarter will be pursued fully by An Garda Síochána. Any other crimes of that nature in this jurisdiction are not and never will be subject to the Statute of Limitations.