Is rud suntasach é foilseachán na tuairisce ar Oibríocht Kenova. Is léiriú cuimsitheach é ar scéalta dorcha ár n-oileáin agus ar thréimhse a d'fhág fulaingt, pian agus cailliúint inár ndiaidh. Is meabhrú dúinn é freisin go bhfuil scéalta na n-íobartach le hinsint agus le cloisteáil fós, agus gur gá dúinn freagra cuimsitheach a thabhairt dóibh. Like colleagues on all sides of the House, I acknowledge the immense dignity and perseverance shown by the victims and families whose stories lie behind this report. They have carried unanswered questions and deep hurt for decades. Their courage is the foundation of the investigation that led to the publication of the report relating to Operation Kenova. They should and must be central to everything that is done in the work of legacy. I welcome the publication of the report as a critical piece of work in bringing together findings across the reports on operations Kenova, Denton, Turma and Mizzenmast. As has been outlined, the investigators followed more than 12,000 lines of inquiry, interviewed hundreds of people and overcame major obstacles to uncover the truth. It was a huge effort and recognition is due to Jon Boucher, lain Livingstone and the entire Operation Kenova team. The report is unsparing in its assessment of the Provisional IRA's crimes, which include torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, murder and the intimidation of the very communities it claimed to represent. Accountability cannot differentiate, and nor can it be selective. Worryingly, the report also lays bare the deeply troubling failures of the British state, including MI5 and the Force Research Unit, whereby protecting its agent Stakeknife was repeatedly prioritised over preventing murder, intelligence was not shared with law enforcement on either side of the Border and the fact murders could and should have been prevented. Time and again, as the report states, the protection of Stakeknife outweighed the protection of innocent lives. This fact must be confronted honestly. It brings into focus one of the more horrific findings, which is that more lives were lost than saved because of the focus on protecting one agent whom, even now, the British Government declines to name. We cannot ignore the important findings of Operation Mizzenmast and Operation Turma, including the forensic breakthroughs that have enabled justice to be done in a number of instances. Cases like these demonstrate clearly that truth can still be found and justice remains possible. While the full report relating to Operation Denton has not been published, the summary provides some official recognition that a network of loyalist paramilitaries and corrupt members of the security forces were involved in activities during the Troubles. The corrosive impact of that collusion on confidence in policing and on victims' families cannot be overstated. It is deeply regrettable that the full Denton report has not yet been published. Survivors and families have waited far too long. This House has on three occasions sought access for an independent international judicial figure to all original British files relating to the 1974 Dublin-Monaghan bombings. I repeat the call in that regard today. Openness and accountability are not merely standards we demand of others; they are standards we must demonstrate ourselves. The delay in the publication of the full Denton report is disappointing, and deeply so for the families affected. Its completion and release are necessary steps in advancing truth and honouring our obligations under the joint framework on the legacy of the Troubles agreed last year by the Irish and British Governments. Importantly, the framework recognises that cross-Border co-operation is essential. It commits both Governments to mechanisms that support reconciliation, justice and truth. An Garda Síochána has played a role in assisting the Operation Kenova investigators, including with access to records and so on and in facilitating contact with witnesses and families. This is the model of co-operation that must continue. This debate brings into focus the need for us to constantly think about how we can evolve the Good Friday Agreement. The discussions and setbacks we have seen in the area of legacy over the past few years have served as a reminder that the success of the agreement and its institutions is fragile, is ultimately predicated on the roles of the two Governments as co-guarantors and that they must both be aligned in their vision and their view of what the settlement should represent in terms of individual values. That is why work on the joint framework on the legacy is an important step towards achieving that. Ireland's commitment to peace has always rested on the principles of truth, justice, reconciliation and respect for the rule of law. Kenova adds to and mirrors those principles by shining a light where darkness was once allowed to spread, by confronting uncomfortable truths for all actors in the peace process, and by ensuring, most importantly, that victims and their families are not forgotten or silenced. Is cur chuige tábhachtach é seo a léiríonn an tábhachtach a bhaineann le héisteacht agus le cuimhniú ar gach rud atá tar éis tarlú d'íobartaigh le linn na Trioblóidí. Ní féidir le haon duine atá ainmnithe sa tuairisc seo éalú ón bhfreagra a gcaithfidh siad a thabhairt ar a bhfuil déanta acu nó ar a bhfuil déanta ag a gcuid eagraíochtaí féin. Operation Kenova demonstrates that even decades after crimes are committed, rigorous victim-focused investigations, while constituting immense effort and commitment from those involved, can deliver truth, acknowledgement and the possibility of closure. The work is painstaking and it can often be painful but it is work we must continue if we are sincere in our commitment to a lasting and just peace.

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