16 Jan 2012, 09:34
Members of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement visited Monaghan and Armagh on Thursday 12 January, to explore the work of the North South Ministerial Council, to meet with victims’ and community groups, and with the DUP mayor of Armagh City.
Committee Chairman Dominic Hannigan TD, said: “In Monaghan we met with relatives of four of those killed in the Monaghan bomb and with representatives of Justice for the Forgotten and the Pat Finucane Centre who advocate on their behalf. It was a poignant meeting and I know that Committee Members from all parties appreciated the open and candid manner in which the families and their supporters outlined the ongoing legacy issues which they face.
“The Committee Members are particularly concerned with the continued lack of cooperation from the British intelligence services in terms of releasing documents which could answer urgent questions concerning allegations of collusion between NI security forces and loyalists in the bombings that day which caused the highest number of casualties in any single day during the Troubles.”
In Armagh, the Committee visited the North South Ministerial Council Offices to learn more about the workings of the North South Ministerial Council and its Joint Secretariat.
Deputy Hannigan continued: “There was a lively discussion covering a wide range of topics including the St Andrews Agreement Review, the future of the Safefood body, tourism, transport infrastructure in the border region, education and literacy, joint EU funding, local health services and agri-food. The Committee heard of excellent examples of cross-border cooperation across a broad range of areas including health, trade and education. The Committee will continue to track closely the work of the Secretariat, in particular in 2012 in the context of the St Andrew’s Agreement Review. The theme of suicide prevention was raised, especially in rural communities.”
“The Committee paid a courtesy call on DUP Mayor of Armagh City, Cllr Freda Donnelly who welcomed the delegation to the Council Buildings and gave the members a tour of the Council Chambers. Whilst at the Council Chambers the Committee also met with a number of local Sinn Féin Representatives.”
“The delegation also travelled to Darkley to meet with representatives of the Crossfire Trust, a charitable organisation which aims to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support to people in South Armagh. The Trust’s support programmes have played a vital role for many people in South Armagh in coming to terms with trauma suffered as a result of the Troubles. It was an uplifting visit which highlighted to members the need to consider the many different approaches which dealing with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland requires.”
The one day visit to Monaghan and Armagh flows from the inaugural meeting of the Committee in July 2011, when members agreed to undertake a number of visits to Northern Ireland and to the border region to meet with a broad range of community groups and other key agencies and organisations involved in peace, reconciliation and community development work.
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Delegation members
Dominic Hannigan TD Chairman
Frank Feighan TD
Martin Ferris TD
Seán Conlan TD
Michael P. Kitt TD
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD
Joe O'Reilly TD
Sen Mary Moran
Pat Doherty MP
Margaret Ritchie MP
Michelle Gildernew MP
Conor Murphy MP
Members of the Committee
Deputies: Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Alan Farrell, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Dominic Hannigan, Michael P. Kitt, Joe McHugh, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Joe O’Reilly, Brendan Smith and Joanna Tuffy.
Senators: Jim D’Arcy, Maurice Cummins, Martin McAleese, Mary Moran, Mary White.