Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 73 together.

The position of the Government with respect to the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland has been clear and consistent for a number of years now. The Stormont House Agreement framework was reached collectively by both Governments and the political parties after intensive negotiations. To be completely accurate, the UUP did not support it but the other parties did. It is vital that we make progress on this for the victims and families who have been waiting for so long and for society as a whole, as we seek to build deeper reconciliation. The Government has continued to engage on this issue since the Stormont House Agreement was reached in 2014 and to work for that important progress. We want to see the agreement implemented.

In March of last year, the UK Government issued a written ministerial statement that proposed to significantly depart from the Stormont House Agreement. Since then, I have spoken regularly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to express our strong concerns and to reiterate the importance of a collective approach consistent with the Stormont House Agreement, and one which is compliant with international human rights obligations. I reaffirmed those critical principles to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when we met last week in Dublin and strongly advised him against any unilateral action on these very sensitive issues.

Media reports last week of possible plans to introduce a statute of limitations have caused significant upset, shock and concern in Northern Ireland. In my time as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have met with many victims and survivors from both communities. I know how hurt they are at the idea of being denied a route to pursue justice on behalf of their loved ones.

As per the Stormont House Agreement framework, there is a need to take a comprehensive view of how to achieve progress and reconciliation for society as a whole but the needs of victims and families must be at the heart of the process.

I join Deputy Smith in welcoming the report released today on the Ballymurphy massacre. I have had the privilege of meeting the families who have been involved in decades of campaigning for justice. Today's ruling was hugely significant and important, making it absolutely clear that none of the ten people killed over that three-day period nearly 50 years ago was guilty of anything. They should not have been killed in the way they were.

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