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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Victims legislation and the disappeared

Summary

Willie O’Dea urges the Government to accelerate victims legislation after a programme about murdered and disappeared people, including Jean McConville. The Taoiseach says the Bill is due next year but will ask the Justice Minister to consider advancing it.

To clarify an issue, I believe the Taoiseach told Deputy Martin yesterday that he expected victims legislation would be produced in the second half of next year. Will he consider bringing forward this legislation in view of the recent horrendous and stomach-churning RTE programme which detailed the murders of people who were separated from their families whose members were subsequently not told anything? The Northern Ireland authorities appear to be making all the running on this matter.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

We cannot debate the matter on the Order of Business.

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Jean McConville was found buried in this jurisdiction. I ask the Taoiseach to consider advancing the legislation and placing victims centre stage.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

When is the Bill due?

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

It is due next year. We are trying to make some changes to address the bottleneck that normally arises with legislation being produced. In that context, I will certainly consider the Deputy's comments. This is a particularly sensitive and important issue. As to the discussions yesterday, everybody would like to see closure brought to this matter and those who were disappeared brought home in order that their families can grieve for them. While I cannot give the Deputy a guarantee on the matter, I will have the Minister for Justice and Equality consider it in the context of the changes we are making to expedite legislation, if I may put it that way.

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