Bill on `disappeared' agreed

Legislation dealing with the "disappeared" in Northern Ireland has been agreed in principle by the Cabinet.

The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said the legislation was agreed in principle but the precise nature of it was not, as the agreement had only been reached on the matter in the past few days by the Irish and British governments.

This followed the IRA announcement that it had identified the location of the bodies of nine people killed by the paramilitary organisation in the 1970s and 1980s and buried in secret.

The Minister said it would be similar to legislation on decommissioning, and the heads of a Bill would be brought forward after Easter and would be introduced by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.

The legislation would mean that evidence uncovered with the remains would not be used in subsequent criminal proceedings.

She told the Fine Gael deputy leader, Mrs Nora Owen, who raised the issue during the Order of Business, that the Bill would be similar to legislation to be introduced in Britain.

Ms Harney also assured Mr Austin Currie (FG, Dublin West) that the legislation would not delay or hinder the exhumation or burial of those whose bodies are recovered.

"The Government wants to see these burials taking place as quickly as possible. That is the least their loved ones deserve," she said.

"I believe it is 27 years in one case since the woman in question went missing."

Mr Currie said he knew of a case where it was 23 years since the person went missing.

"The intention is that there would be no further delay," Ms Harney said.

"These people have waited long enough and the least that can be done is that they give their loved ones a Christian burial as quickly as possible if that is their wish."