Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
396. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the statement by the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (details supplied) on legacy issues issued on 18 March 2020. [34596/20]
View answerIt has consistently been the position of the Government that only through a collective approach can we hope to deal fairly and comprehensively with the legacy of the Troubles, in a way that responds to the needs of victims and survivors, and society as a whole.
The Stormont House Agreement framework is the way forward on these issues. Agreement was reached by both Governments and the political parties after intensive negotiations. In March, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland issued a statement that proposed significant changes to that framework. I engaged with Secretary of State Lewis directly following this statement, to set out the Government's serious concerns about those proposed changes, and we have remained in regular contact with the UK Government on this issue since then to underline this message.
Where the UK Government is proposing significant changes to that framework, these must be discussed and agreed by both Governments and the parties to the Northern Ireland Executive.
The need for agreement by both Governments to any changes of approach applies importantly and specifically to the legislation that would implement the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval on foot of the Treaty between our two Governments signed in 2015. Any approach has to be coherent across both jurisdictions.
In terms of the issues the UK Government raised in its statement about the treatment of British military veterans, the Government's position is again clear. There should be effective investigations into all Troubles-related deaths, regardless of the perpetrator. The Government would not support a proposal to introduce any special measure or treatment regarding investigation of state or non-state actors in Northern Ireland.
The rule of law and the protections afforded by the European Convention on Human Rights must apply equally to everyone and must be upheld, and this principle is at the core of the Stormont House framework.
Victims and survivors have had to wait for far too long for a suitable and effective system in Northern Ireland to deal with the legacy of the Troubles. The Government remains ready to engage and work with the British Government and the parties to the Northern Ireland Executive in partnership on this very important issue in the period immediately ahead, with a view to reaffirming a collective approach that is consistent with the Stormont House Agreement.
