Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has met Mr Geoff Knupfer chief investigator of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39021/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains was established in 1999 by the Irish and British Governments as one of the actions taken in the context of the Peace Process to acknowledge and address the suffering of the victims of violence as a necessary element of reconciliation. The purpose of the Commission is to facilitate the location of the remains of the Disappeared, those who were killed and buried secretly by paramilitaries over the course of the conflict, in order that they may be returned to their families to afford them some measure of closure.

Together with the Northern Ireland Office Minister of State, I met with the two Commissioners, Mr. Frank Murray and Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, and the Commission’s investigators last year, in the context of a meeting with the families of the Disappeared. I assured them of the continuing, full support of both Governments for the Commisson's work. Officials in my Department and in the Northern Ireland Office maintain close and regular contact with the Commissioners and their investigation team.

The Commission has emphasised that its work is driven by information. All information provided to the Commission is treated as strictly confidential and everyone can be assured that such information can only be used to locate and identify the remains. It cannot be given to other agencies or used for prosecutions.

I know the House will join me in calling on anybody who has any information that could help to locate those still missing to give that information to the Commission without delay. The Commission has in place a confidential freephone number and PO box address through which information can be passed to it. More information about the Commission and its work, and how to contact it is available on the Commission’s website – www.iclvr.ie

I would emphasise to the House that the Commission’s task is a humanitarian one. Its aim is to return the remains of those killed to their families for a decent burial in order that they might have a place to grieve. The Government fully supports them that aim and I call on all others to assist in achieving it.