Justice for Troubles victims
Fleming sought assurances that no legislation would prevent victims and families from pursuing justice for Troubles-era killings; the Tánaiste said the Government had no such plans.
With regard to the restorative justice Bill and given the comments yesterday of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, Mr. John Larkin, can the Tánaiste commit today that there will not be any legislation introduced in the Oireachtas to prevent families of those people killed in the North from having the opportunity to secure justice? The Tánaiste will be aware that UK Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday that he gave a commitment on this matter in the House of Commons. I ask the Tánaiste to do the same today. We all know there can be no price put on justice. The idea of a cost-saving measure worth up to €190 million is particularly callous. I want the commitment.
The second Bill I wish to refer to is the Official Secrets Act (amendment) Bill. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to retain a criminal sanction for breaches that involve a serious threat to the State.
I ask the Tánaiste to tell us when that legislation will be introduced and whether it can deal with restorative justice.
Comment on this
The Government has no plans to introduce legislation that would prevent victims or their families from seeking justice arising from the Troubles in Northern Ireland. There is an agreement on these matters. There is an agreement on pre-1998 offences, which is part of the Good Friday Agreement. It provides for prosecution, conviction and for reduced sentences. We have no plans to depart from that. The whole issue of dealing with the past and the issues that arise from it is now the subject of an all-party discussion in Northern Ireland chaired by Dr. Richard Haass and we support that process.
I do not have a date for the introduction of the official secrets (amendment) Bill.