Brendan Smith urges urgent action on legacy framework and justice
Brendan Smith pressed the Taoiseach to urgently enact the legacy framework agreed between the British and Irish governments and to legislate to give effect to its provisions. He asked whether a strong commitment had been secured from the Prime Minister and stressed the need for justice for families still awaiting answers.
Brendan Smith welcomed the legacy framework published in early September and said there is an urgent need to enact legislation to give effect to its provisions. He told the Taoiseach that, for decades, many families have waited for justice and that the State must move to deliver progress on rights, concerns and grief that continue to engulf victims' families.
Smith highlighted upcoming and past commemorations, noting the 53rd anniversary in Bell Torbet of a bombing that killed two teenagers and the Monaghan-Dublin atrocity in May 1974. He emphasised that so many atrocities remain without anyone brought to justice and that urgency cannot be overstated when addressing legacy issues.
He asked whether the Taoiseach had secured a clear sense of urgency or a strong commitment from the Prime Minister. In reply the Taoiseach said he believed there was a sincere commitment from the British Government, shared by the Prime Minister and by the Secretary of State, and that the Secretary of State had acted honourably in negotiations on the legacy framework.
The Taoiseach referred to the anticipated publication of the Denton report, which may shed light on the Monaghan bombing and related issues, including the activities mentioned by other deputies. He also relayed that victims had been impressed by John Boucher when he was in charge of Canova - noting that Canova, in his view, had been "quite good" for those victims - and said they eagerly await further findings and clarity.
Urgent call to enact legacy framework
Brendan Smith welcomed the legacy framework published in early September and said there is an urgent need to enact legislation to give effect to its provisions. He told the Taoiseach that, for decades, many families have waited for justice and that the State must move to deliver progress on rights, concerns and grief that continue to engulf victims' families.
Commemorations and victims' grief
Smith highlighted upcoming and past commemorations, noting the 53rd anniversary in Bell Torbet of a bombing that killed two teenagers and the Monaghan-Dublin atrocity in May 1974. He emphasised that so many atrocities remain without anyone brought to justice and that urgency cannot be overstated when addressing legacy issues.
Questions on UK commitment and engagement
He asked whether the Taoiseach had secured a clear sense of urgency or a strong commitment from the Prime Minister. In reply the Taoiseach said he believed there was a sincere commitment from the British Government, shared by the Prime Minister and by the Secretary of State, and that the Secretary of State had acted honourably in negotiations on the legacy framework.
Investigations, the Denton report and victims' experiences
The Taoiseach referred to the anticipated publication of the Denton report, which may shed light on the Monaghan bombing and related issues, including the activities mentioned by other deputies. He also relayed that victims had been impressed by John Boucher when he was in charge of Canova - noting that Canova, in his view, had been "quite good" for those victims - and said they eagerly await further findings and clarity.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, I had the opportunity at this House on a number of occasions to welcome in general terms the legacy framework that was agreed between the British and Irish governments and published in early September. There's an urgent need to enact that, to enact legislation to give effect to the provisions outlined in that framework. Did you detach an urgency or a very strong commitment from Prime Minister Starmer in relation to the need to get this issue dealt with? For decades and decades, many families have waited for justice. We have to move on and get progress in relation to the rights, the concerns and the grief that engulfs so many families and families of victims for many decades now. At the end of this month, we'll mark the 53rd anniversary in Bell Torbet of the bombing that caused the lives of two young teenagers. We also have had significant dates in relation to commemorations or to mark the terrible atrocities in Monaghan Dublin in May 1974. There are so many atrocities where nobody has been brought to justice. Again, Taoiseach, we cannot ever attach enough urgency to trying to deal with legacy issues. Thank you. Thank you, Deputy Deputy Smith. I think it was the first deputy who raised the issue in terms around the legacy. I do believe there is a sincere commitment on behalf of the British Government to the implementation of the legacy framework and that that is shared by Prime Minister Starmer and indeed Secretary of State Hilary Benn, who has acted honourably in all of the negotiations and discussions in respect of the legacy framework. I visited and went to Chequers last September specifically on legacy along with other issues. It was important to meet with Keir Starmer on that. He has experience of the North in a former role there. From our perspective, and I know you have been a strong advocate in terms of Bell Torbet and Monaghan Dublin, what is important also is the Denton report may shed some light maybe on the Monaghan bombing, and indeed related issues that Deputy Murakou raised, also in terms of the activities of the Canaan gang. We eagerly await the publication of the Denton report because Canova was quite good in my view, particularly in terms of the victims who were very impressed with John Boucher when he was in charge of Canova. They really articulated to me that he is one of the people I met who understood where victims were coming from and their families, or sorry, the families of victims were coming from.