Vol. 526 No. 1
116 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in recent meetings with members of the Republican movement, the issues of the disappeared and the return to Northern Ireland of those exiled by the IRA have been raised with them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21893/00]
133 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans there are to resume the search for the bodies of the disappeared; if any contact has been made with the Republican movement, either directly of through the Victims Commission, to try and establish any further information on the location of the bodies, particularly in view of the continuing distress caused to the families of these victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25782/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 133 together.
The Criminal Justice (Location of Victims' Remains) Act, 1999, established a commission for the location of the remains of victims of paramilitary violence. The commission received certain information on the location of the remains of a number of victims, as a result of which the remains of three victims were recovered. There are no proposals for a resumption of searches for the remains of those victims which the commission was unable to locate.
The plight of those expelled from Northern Ireland by paramilitary groups is a cause of serious concern. The right to choose freely one's place of residence is recognised in the Good Friday Agreement, and the right of those concerned to have the threats against them lifted and to return home is fully endorsed by the Government.
Members of the Government and officials, in their contacts with parties which have influence on paramilitary groups, regularly urged them to do everything possible to make any information available which would have assisted the commission in locating the remains of the disappeared and continue to press them on the need to resolve the unacceptable situation of those expelled from Northern Ireland.
Question No. 117 taken with Question No. 112.
