Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 November 2013
44. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that in any discussions with the Haass talks that the interests of victims and survivors are dealt with comprehensively; his views on whether such talks must be victim centred and that the search for justice for victims and their families will not be abandoned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51265/13]
View answerWe are regularly reminded of the devastation that the conflict wrought on families and communities. Most recently, allegations of collusion and the murders described in Anne Cadwallader’s book Lethal Allies, the BBC and RTÉ documentary on ‘The Disappeared’, allegations of shoot-to-kill by the undercover Military Reaction Force and the anniversaries of the Shankill and Greysteel bombs have reverberated through society, North and South. The Government believes that addressing the legacy of the past is central to allowing Northern Ireland to make progress towards reconciliation and a cohesive society.
Richard Haass and Meghan O’Sullivan have undertaken extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders and representative groups in Northern Ireland, including many who speak on behalf of victims and survivors. I have also held discussions with Dr Haass, in New York in September and in Dublin in October, and I know that he is well briefed on the legacy of the past including the broad range of views of victims and survivors. The Government will continue its engagement with Dr Haass and his team as their work intensifies over the coming period. The Government urges all participants in the talks to seize the opportunity presented by the Panel of Parties process to address issues such as the legacy, including the concerns of victims and survivors. We remain fully committed to supporting the process in any way we can and to finding a way forward on all the issues within the remit of the Panel of Parties talks.
