Deputy Brendan Smith addressed recent European Commission proposals on the protocol and urged removal of trade obstacles, welcoming measures to support north-south commerce. He also called on the Oireachtas to reject British government amnesty proposals for perpetrators of murder and maiming, insisting investigations must continue.
Protocol and trade
The deputy welcomed the Taoiseach's comments at the association conference and cited last week's European Commission proposals on the protocol. He said the government contributed to discussions to remove as many obstacles as possible and that the Commission's outline could go a long way to easing trade frictions.
Business and employment concerns
Drawing on engagement with people in Northern Ireland, including business and community representatives, he emphasised a desire to "get on with the daily business of doing business" - growing trade, creating jobs, maintaining jobs and protecting employment. He welcomed development of more north-south and south-north trade and expressed hope that protocol issues can be resolved.
Opposition to amnesties
The deputy urged the Oireachtas to reject the British government's proposals for an amnesty for those who committed horrific crimes, including murder and maiming. He said such perpetrators - whether from state forces, paramilitary organisations or other criminal gangs - must not be allowed to get away, and he insisted investigations should not be shut down because families deserve the truth.
Investigations, models and cooperation
Other speakers in the chamber echoed the call for continued investigations and urged people with information on unsolved cases to come forward. Operation Canova was cited by some parties as a useful model and the British-Irish Governmental Council has discussed different approaches. The deputy emphasised that whatever emerges must be agreed between all parties and the two governments, not through unilateral moves.
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Like Deputy Haughey, I welcome Taoiseach's comments at the association conference. Could I also just refer to the proposals of the European Commission last week in regard to the protocol? I know that naturally the government here, Taoiseach and his colleagues in government would have contributed to the discussions to ensure to remove as many obstacles as possible. When I have engagement with people in Northern Ireland, be it business or community, they want to see us get on with the daily business of doing business, growing trade, creating jobs, maintaining jobs, protecting employment. I think what the European Commission has outlined can go a long way to remove any of the obstacles that there are to trade. We welcome the development of more and more trade on a north-south and south-north basis as well. Any obstacles should be removed and I sincerely hope that the protocol issues can be resolved. The Taoiseach, I think it's very important that we as an Oireachtas continue to reject the British government's proposals in regard to an amnesty for people who committed horrific crime, murder of people, the maiming of people. Regardless whether they were state forces or from paraministry organisations or other criminal gangs, those people must not get away if at all possible. We all know so many families who have lost loved ones and what they seek is the truth. It's not a vendetta but under no circumstances should investigations be shut down. People are entitled, if at all possible, to at least get the truth of what happened to their loved ones. Thank you. Thank you. And the same in respect of amnesties, I agree with what has been said by Deputy Smith. The perpetrators of violence, particularly those who are engaged in murder and maiming of people, they cannot get away with it. And they must know that they're going to be subject to investigation. And some of these cases are still being pursued. And people can still bring forward information that would lead to a resolution of these cases. And I would urge people to come forward with information in respect of a lot of the unsolved cases. That the families of victims and the families who lost loved ones so eagerly seek closure. Different models have been discussed. The British Irish Governmental Council did discuss this. Deputy Smith and people are saying that Operation Canova, some parties, I met all the parties, last week, were instancing that as a useful model. But what's important is that whatever emerges is done in agreement between all parties and the two governments, not any unilateral moves.
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