Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
258. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has outlined to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the recent proposals by the British government concerning legacy issues are unacceptable and if he has raised with him the need to implement the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28808/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe UK Government’s Legacy Bill has now been introduced into Westminster and has had its second reading.
It is disappointing that the UK Government has chosen to unilaterally introduce legislation, moving away from the process agreed in the Stormont House Agreement, a process that was agreed by both Governments, political parties and victims and survivors groups.
I have raised my concerns about the UK’s move away from the Stormont House Agreement with the Secretary of State on a number of occasions, including at the time of the Assembly election and at the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference in March. I will continue to do so.
My meetings with political parties in Northern Ireland in the wake of the election also offered an opportunity to hear their views and concerns about the Legacy Bill. Officials from my Department have also engaged with victims groups, which is crucial.
Lasting progress is best achieved through finding an agreed way forward based on engagement and sufficient consensus. We already had the basis for that in the Stormont House Agreement.
In addition to concerns about the process, we have a number of serious concerns about the substantive provisions of the Bill. These include the powers of the Commission, the status of the ‘reviews’ proposed in the Bill, and of course, fundamentally, compliance with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and other international human rights obligations.
I know that many families are upset by the publication and progress of this Bill, including those waiting for inquests or pursuing civil litigation. There will be many that understandably feel that immunity, conditional or otherwise, may be more about protecting perpetrators instead of pursuing justice and getting to the truth in such cases. It is vital that those concerns are heard and fully understood. It is also vital that the process for dealing with the legacy build rather than erode trust and confidence.
I wholeheartedly welcome the contributions from members in last week's debate in this chamber.
We will continue to engage with the UK Government, at all levels, to better understand the provisions of this bill. I have serious concerns and cannot support it in its current form.
