Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
273. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has conveyed to the British Government the absolute need to honour the commitments made in the Good Friday Agreement and in successor agreements taking into consideration recent commentary in Great Britain that persons involved in very serious crimes in Northern Ireland would be given an amnesty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25492/21]
View answerThe full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent agreements is an utmost priority for this Government. In engaging with the British Government, we have taken every opportunity to reaffirm the critical importance of our roles as co-guarantors of the Agreement, to work for its protection and in support of its institutions.
The position of the Government on the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland has also been clear and consistent. The Stormont House Agreement is the way forward on these issues. It was agreed in 2014 by both Governments and the political parties after intensive negotiations, and it should be implemented. Where the UK Government are proposing significant changes to that framework, we have made clear that these must be discussed and agreed by both Governments and the parties to the Northern Ireland Executive. In March of last year, the UK Government issued a Written Ministerial Statement that proposed significantly departing from the SHA. Since then, I have spoken regularly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to express our strong concerns and to reiterate the importance of a collective approach consistent with the Stormont House Agreement, and with international human rights obligations. I reaffirmed those critical principles to the Secretary of State when we met last week in Dublin, and strongly advised against any unilateral action on these sensitive issues.Media reports last week of possible plans on to introduce a statute of limitations have of course caused significant upset, shock and concern. It is essential that we make progress on dealing with the legacy of the past, but as the Stormont House Agreement sets out, there is a need to take a comprehensive view of how to achieve progress and reconciliation for society as a whole, and the needs of victims and families must be at the heart of the process.We have strongly communicated our position on this issue to the UK Government and will continue to do so, and to caution in the clearest terms against any unilateral action. The Government remains ready to engage and work with the UK Government and the parties to the Northern Ireland Executive, with a view to reaffirming a collective approach that is consistent with the Stormont House Agreement.
