Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2017
40. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that adequate resources are provided for the Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains in view of the urgent need to make further progress in the searches for the disappeared; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15662/17]
View answerThe Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) was established by the Irish and British Governments in 1999 as one among the actions to acknowledge and address the suffering of the victims of violence as a necessary element of reconciliation in the context of the Peace Process. The ICLVR's task is to facilitate the location of the remains of a number of persons who were killed and buried secretly by paramilitary organisations during the troubles.
I know that Deputy Smith, and others in this House, have a long-standing interest in this issue. The families of the victims have endured a very unique tragedy, not just in having lost a loved one, but having been denied for so long information about the burial places of their loved ones.
I can assure the Deputy and, indeed, the families of the Disappeared that the ICLVR’s investigation team has had and will continue to have the resources it needs to carry out its difficult task. The Government will continue in co-operation with our British counterparts to support this important work.
However, as the Deputy will know the ICLVR’s work is fundamentally driven by information. This is the key resource to support its efforts and anyone who has any information on any of the outstanding cases should bring it to the ICLVR without delay.
The only aim of the ICLVR is to locate the victims’ remains in order that they may be returned to their families to receive a decent burial. In this way the families will then have a grave at which to grieve and to remember. To date, 12 of the ICLVR’s cases have been located and the ICLVR is continuing its inquiries in relation to the remaining four cases – Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac and Seamus Ruddy – and I can assure the families of my and the Government's continued full support for this ongoing humanitarian work.
