“I am of the view that something should be done to help the families..”

The Secretary of State for Wales etc is preparing for the likelihood that, despite the apparent confidence of Geoff Knupfer - who is in charge of the team assembled by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains - the remains of those abducted, murdered and buried in secret by the Provisional IRA, et al, will not be found.. by introducing legislation to allow for a death certificate to be issued.. although he’s actually announcing legislation to go through the devolved Assembly.

From Peter Hain’s statement

Announcing the proposal today, Mr Hain said: “In August 2006 the British and Irish Governments announced fresh efforts to locate and recover the remains of the disappeared. The work carried out by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) is ongoing.

“However, for the families of those whose remains cannot be located, the fact remains that without a body being found it is not possible, under the law as it stands for the deaths to be registered and a certificate issued. The families have expressed the view to NIO Ministers that having a death certificate would bring great comfort to them.

“While I am pleased that the efforts to locate the bodies of the disappeared are encouraging and continuing, I am of the view that something should be done to help the families obtain some measure of closure.

“The Government has produced proposals for new legislation which would allow the deaths, not only of the disappeared but other people who have been missing for as long as seven years, to be registered and death certificates issued.”

Mr Hain said that the measures will be taken forward by the incoming Assembly and Executive:  “The new Minister of Finance & Personnel has agreed that work on these proposals will proceed under his direction, with the restored Executive taking forward the necessary legislation in its programme for the coming year.”

Not sure how this falls under the remit of the Department of Finance and Personnel..

Pete Baker @ 02:12 PM