Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an official from his Department attended the inquest into the Ballymurphy massacre; and the supports he is providing to those persons in the pursuit of truth and justice for their loved ones killed by the British army in the massacre. [48135/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government has supported the long campaign of the Ballymurphy families, including in bringing forward the All-Party Dáil Motion in 2015, and the Government will continue to stand in solidarity with the families.I have welcomed the new inquest in Belfast which commenced on 12 November. An official of my Department attended the opening day of the inquest, to express the Government’s continuing solidarity with the families as they commence the extremely difficult process of a coronial inquiry into the deaths of their family members. Like so many families from both communities in Northern Ireland, they deserve to establish the truth of what happened to their loved ones. I sincerely hope that this new inquest will provide the families with answers and the truth of what happened, which they are still seeking after forty-seven years.

I met with the Ballymurphy families in Belfast on 22 November last year to hear their views and experiences and to confirm the Government’s support for their campaign. I and my predecessors as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade have also consistently raised the Ballymurphy case with the British Government. The Government has underlined the requirement for all Troubles-related deaths - whatever the circumstances, and whoever is responsible - to be investigated in a manner that is consistent with the European Convention on Human Rights.

I have directed officials from my Department to monitor developments with the Ballymurphy inquest closely and to remain in contact with the families as the inquiry proceeds over the coming months.

I will also continue to engage with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the leaders of the political parties in Northern Ireland to seek urgent further progress with the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement legacy framework and with the adequate resourcing of legacy inquests in Northern Ireland, consistent with the requirements of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.