Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
117. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the need to implement the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15342/22]
View answerThe Stormont House Agreement was reached collectively in 2014 by the Irish Government, the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland after a period of intense negotiation, and provides a balanced and comprehensive framework to address the painful legacy of the Troubles. The Government has engaged consistently with the British Government to underline the importance of progress on the implementation of this framework.
As the Deputy will be aware, in July 2021, the UK Government published a Command Paper which proposed a Statute of Limitations. I have made clear to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that this is not a proposal that the Irish Government could support, and the Taoiseach has also underlined this message to Prime Minister Johnson. We have also cautioned strongly against unilateral action in this most sensitive space.
As agreed at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) in June 2021, the Government joined the British Government and the Northern Irish parties in a process of intensive engagement of these issues, which began in July 2021. Throughout this process, there was a clear message from victims groups that a statute of limitations could not be the way forward. It has also been strongly and publicly opposed by all the parties.
The issue was discussed once again at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference that took place in Farmleigh House yesterday. I reiterated to the Secretary of State that, while we continue to remain ready to engage with concerns or issues to do with the implementation of the Stormont House agreement, any such changes must be discussed and agreed by the parties and both Governments, as part of a collective process.
I will continue to take every opportunity in the period immediately ahead to engage with the British Government at all levels on this issue, and to underline the importance of finding a collective way forward now. It is essential that any legacy framework meet the legitimate needs of victims and uphold our shared human rights obligations, for those families who have waited for too long for truth and justice for their loved ones.
