Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2017
42. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the issue of unlawful killings in Northern Ireland during the Troubles with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8604/17]
View answerI discussed legacy issues with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when we met in Dublin on 30 January, following on from detailed engagement with him on these matters at previous bilateral meetings.
In my discussions, both with the Secretary of State and with the political parties in Northern Ireland, I have made consistently clear that the rule of law, including the requirement for effective investigations of unlawful killings, irrespective of who the perpetrators might be, must be upheld. This is reflected in the principles agreed to by all parties in the Stormont House Agreement of 2014, for dealing with the legacy of the past.
The Government remains strongly committed to the establishment of the architecture for dealing with the legacy of the past that is provided for in the Stormont House Agreement. This system provides a framework for dealing comprehensively with the legacy of the past in a way that can bring whatever healing is possible to those affected by the Troubles.
An effective and adequately resourced inquest system is an essential part of the system to provide for effective investigations into deaths during the Troubles, and this requirement is also recognised in the Stormont House Agreement.
I am fully supportive of the proposals that were made by the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland in February 2016. In my engagement with the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland, I have underlined the need to adequately resource the inquests system as proposed by the Lord Chief Justice, so that it can operate effectively and investigate outstanding legacy cases from the Troubles.
I have also emphasised the right under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights to an effective investigation, which is a sovereign obligation that must be upheld by all responsible authorities. In December 2016, I directed that Ireland advocate at the Council of Europe on the urgent need for progress on legacy issues in Northern Ireland, including a properly resourced legacy inquests system, so that the long-outstanding investigations can finally proceed in a manner that is compliant with Article 2 of the Convention.
I will continue to engage with the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland, as appropriate, to support the implementation of the Lord Chief Justice’s proposals on legacy inquests and the establishment of the legacy institutions provided for under the Stormont House Agreement, as soon as possible. The formation of a new power-sharing Executive following the election to be held on 2 March will, I hope, contribute to progress on these issues.
