Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Between 1959 and 1999, roughly 3,500 people died as a result of political violence in Northern Ireland. The conflict often referred to as the Troubles has its origins in the 1921 division of Ireland and has reflected the struggle between different national, cultural and religious identities.

The latest controversial plans by the British Government to introduce a Troubles amnesty could be postponed until the summer of 2022. These plans will rob victims and their families of any hope of receiving justice and transparency. Under the proposals revealed by Secretary of State Brandon Lewis last summer, Westminster officials intend to introduce a statue of limitation, a de factoamnesty for Troubles-related incidents. It also plans to end conflict-related civil proceedings and inquests.

Legislation had been expected before Christmas 2021, but this date has slipped. It has now been reported that the contentious Bill may not become law until summer or late spring. Under the current unacceptable British Government plans which were first introduced in July 2021, a statute of limitations will be introduced which would end all prosecutions for Troubles incidents up to April 1998 and would apply to military veterans as well as ex-paramilitaries.

The British Government approach would mean that the views of the victims of the Troubles are being buried. This is reprehensible. Instead, a truly victim-focused process, taking all of the views of those victims into account, must be put front and centre, as set out in the Stormont House Agreement. The British Government has no support for its position in the North or in the Republic. Therefore, the Government must step up and advocate more strongly for the victims' position.

Issuing press statements and soundbites is one thing, but what is really needed is a forthright and robust dialogue with the British Government. The Government must take a defined position on this matter and insist on the setting up of legacy institutions set out under the Stormont House Agreement. After all, their establishment was agreed over seven years ago.

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