Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue with me. We are considering the United Kingdom Government's published proposals in detail. I have no doubt that we will have a very comprehensive range of issues to raise and questions to ask. There is also a broader question of process. It has been our consistent position - I have communicated this to the British Prime Minister - that the basis for progress on legacy issues is the Stormont House Agreement that was reached between the two Governments and political parties back in 2014. If a significant unilateral departure from that agreement is now being proposed, this would need to be discussed by both Governments and with all the parties.

There must be serious and credible engagement with victims and families. It is essential that both Governments and the parties in Northern Ireland have real and considered discussions on any way forward on this deeply sensitive issue. Crucially, victims and families must be brought into the consideration of any way forward. I have met many of those groups in recent months. They are not happy with the manner in which the British Government approached this and their views must be uppermost.

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