Northern Ireland

Thursday, 11 July 2024

Ceisteanna (127)

Patrick Costello

Ceist:

127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will personally raise the issue of legacy issues in his first meeting with the new British prime minister and Northern Ireland secretary of state, specifically to ensure that the Labour Party commitment to revoke the previous amnesty under Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act is repealed, and explicitly to push for the establishment of the independent commission on information retrieval agreement by both governments and the parties in the North under the Stormont House Agreement. [30602/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I discussed the issue of legacy in my calls with both the new Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP and the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP on July 5, their first day in office. I assured them that the Government remains steadfast in its opposition to the UK Legacy Act as it currently stands but that I looked forward to working closely with the Secretary of State on legacy issues as a matter of urgency to find a better way forward that complies with the European Convention on Human Rights and which meets the needs of victims. In this context, I welcomed the commitments to repeal and replace the unilateral UK Legacy Act which the British Labour Party made in its recent election manifesto.

It is clear from our initial conversations that the new UK Government wishes to return to working in partnership, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, in the manner which has enabled peace and reconciliation on this island and between these islands.