Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
276. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in advancing the legacy framework as agreed by the British and Irish Governments in September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5398/26]
View answerThe measures announced in the Joint Framework published in September provide a pathway to truth and accountability, and, to the extent possible, justice for those most affected by the violence of the Troubles and represents a clear break with the 2023 UK Legacy Act.
I welcome the speed at which the British government brought forward the Bill, which passed second reading in the House of Commons in November. It demonstrates the seriousness with which the Secretary of State and his colleagues are approaching this essential work.
We also have responsibilities in this jurisdiction. In the Joint Framework we committed to enabling “the fullest possible cooperation of the relevant Irish authorities with the Legacy Commission, once established” and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration will publish legislation (the Legacy of the Troubles Bill) to facilitate this once the UK’s legislation is enacted. This legislation will also provide for the establishment of the jointly funded Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR). The Minister for Justice, Migration and Home Affairs has said that he is hopeful that the General Scheme of the Bill will be published in April or May of this year.
Reciprocal cooperation between the two jurisdictions is at the heart of the Joint Framework and this Government will not be found wanting on legacy.
Legacy investigations in this jurisdiction have remained active under An Garda Síochána. That will continue. In addition, a dedicated unit, known as the Troubles Legacy Liaison Unit, has now been established as a central point of contact and coordination within An Garda Síochána for victims and families in relation to Troubles-related investigations.
The Unit will endeavour to answer questions that victims or family members may have in relation to An Garda Síochána Troubles-related investigations and will liaise with Divisional level investigators nationwide in respect of same. It is headed by a Detective Chief Superintendent, who reports into the Assistant Commissioner, Garda Crime & Security Intelligence Service.
The unit can be contacted by phone, email, or written correspondence as follows:
Phone: 01 - 6661322 (dedicated to calls from the public, with voicemail facility);
Email: Troubleslegacyliaisonunit@garda.ie; and
Address: Troubles Legacy Liaison Unit Floor 1, Walter Scott House, Military Road, Dublin 8 D08 HE2P
We are also committed to a financial contribution of €25 million over three years to include the costs of participation and representation of victims, survivors and next of kin in legacy processes.
To leave the legacy of the Troubles unresolved is to hold back the essential task of reconciliation, and to allow trauma to pass down the generations. The timely and faithful implementation of the Joint Framework, by both Governments, is what is now needed to begin to break this cycle.
