Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015
505. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide a full briefing to the Justice for the Forgotten Group, in relation to the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8226/15]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a longstanding relationship with the Justice for the Forgotten group. My Department has had several meetings with the group at both official and Ministerial level. The Government continues to support the Justice for the Forgotten group in their campaign on behalf of the Dublin-Monaghan families. In this regard, the group has received grant support of €48,000 in early 2014 from my Department’s Reconciliation Fund. The funding will assist Justice for the Forgotten with its important work.
I know that my officials are in contact with the Justice for the Forgotten group in relation to arranging a meeting to discuss the Stormont House Agreement.
The focus of the Government is currently on the effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. In this context, I participated in the first implementation and review meeting of the Agreement in Belfast on 30 January last at which a detailed implementation timeline was agreed. Work on implementation is progressing well and a second review meeting will take place in March. A progress report will be published in June 2015. The Government remains committed to playing its part in ensuring the full implementation of the Agreement.
