Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)

My Lords, I too remember the murder of Robert Hamill, set against the Drumcree dispute in April 1997. I remember the inquiries that were set up as a result of the talks at Weston Park in 2001 and the one in respect of Robert Hamill. I also knew Rosemary Nelson, because she was a contemporary of mine at Queen’s University Belfast. We must remember that, again, we are in the midst of another unnecessary dispute at Drumcree, with all its unfortunate displays of community tension, which simply serve no one and undermine our economy and fragile peace process. One element has never been properly addressed and that is the healing process. We have to get involved in that—by that, I mean everybody, right across the community. These counter innuendos and accusations by one against the other have to stop, because it is the people of Northern Ireland who lose out as a result. I ask my noble friend the Minister whether she agrees with that assessment. In relation to the Robert Hamill inquiry and the report, can she further assure me and your Lordships’ House that the disclosures will be properly addressed in the new legacy body which the Government are currently legislating for, that it is futile to reopen wounds as deep as those that the current Drumcree dispute has enabled, and that we should now move on to the healing and reconciliation process to ensure a future for the people of Northern Ireland?