Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 6

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

Austin Currie

Ceist:

15 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, following his meetings with leaders of the republican movement, he will report on the progress on the recovery of the bodies of the disappeared four years after Sinn Féin publicly promised its assistance in rectifying this injustice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5931/99]

Liz McManus

Ceist:

16 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions, if any, he has had with political parties in Northern Ireland on the position of the families of those who were murdered by paramilitaries and whose bodies have never been recovered; the steps, if any, being taken to locate the bodies of these victims in order that their families can give them a decent burial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8928/99]

Austin Currie

Ceist:

91 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, on the recovery of the bodies of the disappeared, four years after Sinn Féin publicly promised its assistance in rectifying this injustice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5230/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 16 and 91 together.

I welcome the statement made last night announcing the location of the whereabouts of the graves of nine of the disappeared. Over the past number of years, my colleagues in Government and I have regularly raised the issue of the disappeared in discussions with Sinn Féin and other parties. Together with all those who are working towards the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, I welcome this confidence-building measure. I believe that the progress which is being made in this regard should rightly be viewed as a constructive development in keeping with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. The families of the disappeared have suffered for years because the bodies of their loved ones have not been returned to them and I hope that this may bring a sense of closure, in order to end their anguish and pain. There are, however, still missing persons on both sides of the community and I again call on all those who have any information which might lead to the identification of their whereabouts to come forward at the earliest possible opportunity.