merrion street

Statement by An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D., on the departure of Victims' Commissioner Kathryn Stone to take up a new appointment in England:

‘Since her appointment as Victims and Survivors Commissioner in September 2012, Kathryn Stone has advanced and championed the needs and rights of victims and survivors in Northern Ireland. Throughout her tenure, she served the people of Northern Ireland with great professionalism, compassion and clarity of purpose.

Kathryn has described the victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland conflict as ‘the living conscience of the past’. She recognised that it is by giving victims and survivors respect and dignity that will allow us to get on with building a better future for the people of Northern Ireland. This is the ongoing challenge she leaves to the political leaders and to society in Northern Ireland, a challenge in which the two Governments also must play a part.’