Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
23. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised concerns that there are Irish citizens in Northern Ireland on remand for over three years who were refused bail and are awaiting trial; if so, the response he received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19770/23]
View answer51. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised concerns with the Northern Ireland and British authorities that there are Irish citizens there awaiting over eight years for a trial; if so, the response he received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19771/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 51 together.
The issues raised by the Deputy are of vital importance. Access to justice is an important human rights issue. I am aware of the ongoing delays that persons awaiting trial in Northern Ireland are experiencing.
The issues identified by the Deputy are the responsibility of the authorities in Northern Ireland, including the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service. The ongoing absence of a functioning Assembly and Executive poses an obstacle to further reducing delays in Northern Irish courts. The vote of the people of Northern Ireland in last May's Assembly elections must be respected, so that the political leadership required if the issues facing communities, such as these are to be addressed.
Minister for Justice, Simon Harris and I discussed the ongoing challenges of paramilitarism and the fifth report of the Independent Reporting Commission, which identifies the speed of justice as an important element in dealing with paramilitarism, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 19 January 2023.
