Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

230. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the ongoing pursuit of the Boston College tapes archive, which is against the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. [9630/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In March 2011 the British Government, acting on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, initiated proceedings with the US Department of Justice under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two countries for the release of selected archived interviews held in Boston College. The archives are part of the Belfast Project,an oral history of Republican and Loyalist former paramilitaries compiled by Mr. Anthony McIntyre and Mr. Ed Moloney and deposited in the College.

Legal challenges were launched by Boston College, and separately by the researchers who led the project, to prevent the release of the material. These challenges were not successful and, in accordance with the court ruling, archived material was handed over by Boston College to the US authorities for onward transmission to their British counterparts.

Judicial proceedings are currently under way following a PSNI request for further access to tapes from the archives in the context of the investigation of serious crime. Issues arising from this matter are still the subject of legal proceedings and in these circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.

The Good Friday Agreement recognises the hurt and suffering caused by tragedies in the past and calls on us to honour victims, survivors and their families by dedicating ourselves to reconciliation, mutual respect and the protection of human rights for all. The recent Stormont House Agreement continues this work of reconciliation by providing for a more effective, accountable framework to address the legacy of the past. The expeditious implementation of the Agreement will remain a major focus of the Government in the period ahead.