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Northern Ireland Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2012

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Ceisteanna (241, 242)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

302 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has met the chief investigator with the Independent Commission on the Location of Victims’ Remains, Geoff Knupfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21419/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

303 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the recent developments in relation to the disappeared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21418/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together.

Over the course of the conflict in Northern Ireland a number of people were abducted and murdered by paramilitary groups, and then buried in secret locations. They have become known as "the Disappeared".

The Irish and British Governments established the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains in 1999 as one of the actions taken in the context of the Peace Process to acknowledge and address the suffering of the victims of violence as a necessary element of reconciliation. The Commission's sole purpose is to facilitate the location of the remains of the Disappeared in order that they may be returned to their families to afford them some measure of closure to the tragedy they have had to endure.

To date the remains of seven of the persons on the Commission's list have been recovered with the Commission's involvement and this has brought some comfort to the families of those victims. There are seven others whose remains have not yet been recovered and the Commission is continuing its work in respect of these cases. The House will be aware that the Commission's investigation team is currently carrying out further excavation works with regard to one of these cases. It is to be hoped that their searches will be successful on this occasion.

In November last year, together with Northern Ireland Office Minister of State, Hugo Swire MP, I met with the two Commissioners, Mr. Frank Murray and Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, and with the Commission's investigators. They updated us on their work and we assured them of the continuing, full support of both Governments for that work. Officials in my Department and in the Northern Ireland Office maintain close and regular contact with the Commissioners and their investigation team.

The Commissioners have emphasised that their work is driven by information. All information provided to the Commission is treated as strictly confidential and everyone can be assured that such information can only be used to locate and identify the remains. It cannot be given to other agencies or used for prosecutions.

I know the House will join me in calling on anybody who has any information that could help to locate those still missing to give that information to the Commission without delay. The Commission has in place a confidential freephone number and PO box address through which information can be passed to it. Information about the Commission and how to contact it are available on the Commission's website www.iclvr.ie.

I would emphasise to the House that the Commission's sole purpose is humanitarian. The families of the Disappeared want to have their loved ones' remains returned to them for a decent burial, to have a place to grieve and, in some measure at least, to have closure. The Government remains committed to that aim and I call on all others to help bring it about.

Question No. 304 answered with Question No. 97.
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