The report referred to by the Deputy makes a number of recommendations on addressing the legacy of the troubles in Northern Ireland. By their nature, many of these recommendations apply only to that jurisdiction and are recommendations to the UK Government.
The Deputy draws particular attention to Recommendation 12 and 47. Recommendation 12 concerns access to justice to allow all conflict-related deaths to be fully investigated regardless of where a death happened, and Recommendation 47 concerns support for victims and survivors.
I can inform the Deputy that successive Irish governments have consistently recognised and acknowledged the enduring suffering and hardship of victims of the conflict. The support for victims, both in this jurisdiction and in Northern Ireland, is at the forefront of the Government’s commitments to address the legacy of the troubles through the Stormont House Agreement.
A Remembrance Commission was established by the Irish Government in 2003 to administer a Scheme of assistance and remembrance for victims of the Northern Ireland conflict, and their families, in this jurisdiction. In so doing, the State formally recognised the needs of victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland conflict and their families. The State continues to support victims of troubles here with their ongoing medical costs via a scheme operated by the Department of Justice.
On the issue of troubles related investigations, the Deputy can be assured that in circumstances where historic, troubles-related offences have not been resolved, the investigations remain open and the Garda Authorities will and do follow up fully on any new evidence or information that becomes available to them, whether that comes from the public, from other police services or from their own investigations.
With regard to investigations, Commissions or Tribunals of Inquiry in relation to a historic crime with a cross–border element, the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 as amended provides that assistance in relation criminal investigations or proceedings may be sought by one State from another, including cross-border investigations. The Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 2019 provides that Coroners in Northern Ireland and Britain dealing with legacy cases can access testimony from An Garda Síochána where this is relevant to their inquests.
