THE Irish government has been urged to launch legacy investigations into Troubles killings that took place in its jurisdiction.
Northern Ireland's Victims Commissioner Judith Thompson made her first presentation on legacy proposals at Leinster House on Thursday.
Among her recommendations was for the Republic to establish a mechanism similar to the proposed Historical Investigations Unit.
She also urged that legislation allowing effective information sharing for legacy inquests is established, and that transparent processes and a robust appeals system are in place around national security to help build trust with families.
Several Troubles incidents took place in the Republic, including the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the IRA murder of Lord Mountbatten and three others in Sligo in 1979.
Ms Thompson told the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement there was a sense of inequality felt by victims outside Northern Ireland.
"I believe there is a good understanding of the issues, I believe there is a sense of it being very difficult to move on," she said.
"I need to be more reassured that both governments feel that this is something that is not only important but urgent and doable."
Ms Thompson said she did not believe many convictions would be secured, but said having investigations was important for bereaved families.
"The purpose of historical investigations should not be defined narrowly in terms of numbers of prosecutions," she said.
"The critical issue for many families and communities as well is access to information about the circumstances leading to the death of people they love, and acknowledgement of the harm that has been done to them."
