Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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91. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has had any recent engagement with the families of the ‘disappeared’ in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66603/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The families of the Disappeared have had to endure a singularly cruel experience, facing not only the tragedy and injustice of losing a loved one, but also for decades not knowing where that loved one was buried or if they might be recovered.

My Department has ongoing engagement with a number of victims’ and survivors groups, which include the families of the Disappeared. As part of these engagements, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs met members of the family of Columba McVeigh on October 2022 and January 2023 respectively.

My Department maintains regular contact with a number of victims’ and survivors groups, including WAVE, who work closely with a number of the families of the Disappeared. This included engagement at Ministerial level in May of this year, during the course of the negotiations with the British Government on the Joint Framework on the legacy of the Troubles, announced on 19 September. The dignity, courage and tenacity of those who continue to seek truth, accountability, and justice for what happened to them and their loved ones is to be commended.

As Minister for Justice, I met with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains and was struck by their dedication to their task. The role of the Commission is a critical, humanitarian one: to support these families who have suffered the devastating loss of their loved ones. This government remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the ongoing work of the Commission.

My colleague, Minister O’Callaghan, is continuing this work and will attend the National Missing Persons Day Ceremony next Wednesday 3 December alongside family members of the Disappeared. I understand he also intends to have further engagement with the ICLVR in the New Year.

I know that the Commission will continue its vital work and I appeal again to anyone with any information that could help the families of Columba McVeigh, Joseph Lynskey, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire to share this information with the Commission now, where it will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.