15 Jan 2014, 16:54
The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement tomorrow meets with representatives from Justice for the Forgotten to hear their perspective on the manner in which victims from the Troubles are being treated.
15 January 2014
Justice for the Forgotten was established in 1996 to represent and support the bereaved families of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The group gradually extended their remit to include the families of other bomb attacks that took place south of the border during the 1970s, in Dublin in 1972 and 1973 and in Belturbet, Dundalk and Castleblaney.
Former journalist Anne Cadwallader will also address the Committee on the Pat Finucane Centre’s Cooperation with Justice for the Forgotten.
Chairman of the Committee Joe McHugh TD says: \"While the ambitious work of Dr Richard Haass has concluded without agreement, some political momentum on forging consensus in dealing with the past remains. Before Christmas, the Committee hosted a very informative, valuable and thought-provoking meeting with a range of groups who represent those impacted by violence during the Troubles. That evidence and the personal stories we heard in December illustrates the heavy legacy that remains from the past and how important it is to deal with it. Tomorrow’s meeting will be an opportunity for the Committee to hear about the valuable work of Justice for the Forgotten.”
Separately, the Committee will meet with representatives of the SDLP to discuss moves towards a Civic Forum for Northern Ireland.
Deputy McHugh continues: “A Civic Forum was provided for under the Good Friday Agreement to comprise representatives from a cross section of civil society in Northern Ireland. Spanning business, agriculture, trade union and voluntary sectors, its purpose would be to act as a consultative mechanism on social, economic and cultural issues. Last April, an SDLP motion calling for the Forum’s re-establishment was passed in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Tomorrow we will have an opportunity to hear from the SDLP on the further steps necessary towards realisation of this important body.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Thursday 16 January at 10:15 am in Committee Room 4, LH 2000 and can be viewed online here.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee:
Deputies: Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Peter M Fitzpatrick, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Michael P Kitt, Joe McHugh (Chair), Joe O’Reilly (Vice-Chair), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Brendan Smith, Joanna Tuffy and Jack Wall
Senators: Maurice Cummins (Leader of the House), Jim D’Arcy, Mary Moran and Mary White