Before I call on the Acting Leader to outline the proposed Order of Business for the day, I welcome to the Visitors Gallery Hugh McCormack and Raymond McCord senior. Raymond is no stranger to Seanad Éireann having addressed the House on the issue of the constitutional future of the island of Ireland when we were having the public consultation last year. Hugh was shot in 1989 in the knees, hands and elbows, and, in 2000, shot eight times. In 1989 he was shot by the IRA and as we know he is here to tell the tale.
Raymond McCord is an extraordinary gentleman because he is the first person ever to get the British Government to admit and accept collusion between the security forces and the loyalist paramilitary groups that murdered his son 26 years ago on Thursday. Raymond has been a victims' rights campaigner for many years, bringing all sides together, including those who have been the subject of paramilitary terrorism and British state forces' activities. He has managed to do some extraordinary things in terms of victims' rights and victims' campaigns. On Friday he was due to have the inquest into his son's murder, which happened 26 years ago. It looks like because of the legacy legislation the British Government brought in to shut down all inquiries, inquests and reports - including into the Glenanne gang and into the issues around Operation Kenova and the British informer in the IRA, Stakeknife - a lot of those victims who should have the truth and should have justice will be denied justice. I welcome Hugh and Raymond to our distinguished Visitors Gallery today and thank them for being here.