Ms Gr?inne Teggart:

On the scenario where we get a judgment from the ECHR, it is to be hoped that would be in an inter-state case. That is part of the reason that, as I mentioned earlier, it is so important that the Irish Government takes that case. That would short-circuit the matter by a number of years compared with victims having to take individual cases through the various domestic courts and then on to the ECHR. Once the Bill is passed and becomes law, it takes effect. It is difficult to answer the question exactly because we do not know, for example, how quickly the ECHR would get to the case, deal with it and issue a judgment. When the Bill is enacted, however, it will be law and it will stand until we get a binding judgment from the ECHR that clearly sets out the breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights that are within the Bill.

The point in respect of a Labour Government is an interesting one. Amnesty International is currently working on that in term of our recommendations to parties for their manifesto commitments. If there is a Labour Government after the next election, as looks possible, we want it to legislate to repeal that Bill, but also to legislate for the Stormont House Agreement. However, that does not address the point of what will happen if the UK Government fails to heed the warnings around the Bill and proceeds to place it on the statute book. The Bill would then take effect until it is repealed or we get a binding judgment.

As regards the scenario where the Bill is dropped by the UK Government point, we made calls to the former Prime Minister, Liz Truss, and are now making calls to Rishi Sunak. We currently have an action online that has received nearly 8,000 responses. Those are 8,000 direct emails that have been sent to the Prime Minister's inbox calling on him to scrap this Bill. At any point, Rishi Sunak can do the right thing, drop this Bill and vindicate victims' rights rather than betraying them in the way the Bill does. I remind the UK Government that this is having a daily impact on victims. A further slow process, with this being dragged out and victims not knowing if they will get justice, will continue to add to the trauma victims have experienced, and that is an utter disgrace. Rishi Sunak should recognise the impact the Bill is having, the strength of opposition to it and the well founded rights breaches that have been highlighted to the UK Government. He should drop the Bill and revert to the Stormont House Agreement or, at least, the negotiations with the Irish Government.

I am sorry. It is just a comment specifically on both these cases. Mr. O'Hare is seeking an independent investigation, which as we know will be closed down under this Bill. Mr. Reavey has a civil action under way, and there is now a file with the PPS, so we need to see at which point we see further progress made there and if that happens before this Bill becomes law or when it becomes law and takes effect.