Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
451. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the allocation in 2019 to North-South bodies in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45900/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to two independent commissions with a North-South focus - the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) and the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC).
The ICLVR was established by the Irish and British Governments in 1999 as one of the actions to acknowledge and address the suffering of the victims of violence as a necessary element of reconciliation in the context of the Peace Process. The ICLVR's task is to facilitate the location of the remains of a number of persons who were killed and buried secretly by paramilitary organisations during the troubles. I can assure the Deputy and, indeed, the families of the Disappeared that the ICLVR’s investigation team has had and will continue to have whatever resources it needs to carry out its work.
The IRC was established by international agreement between the Irish and British Governments as one part of the range of initiatives of the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement designed to address paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland. The function of the IRC is to monitor progress on tackling paramilitarism and to report to the two Governments. The two Governments recently received and published the first report of the IRC. The Government will fully support the IRC in delivering on its important mandate.
These bodies are funded jointly by the two Governments. The precise allocation for 2019 for the relevant subhead in my Department's Vote is currently being finalised as part of the process of preparation of the Revised Estimates Volume for 2019 and will be published before the end of the year by my colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. However, I can advise the Deputy that there will be no reduction in the funding available to these bodies.
