Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Taoiseach will join me in welcoming the interim resolution adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The resolution again expressed serious concerns about Britain's so-called legacy Bill, which is currently before the House of Lords. Members of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement are over there at the moment. It seems as if the British Government is hell-bent on ploughing ahead with its legislation. The only positive way forward is for the British Government to withdraw the Bill. It is opposed by families and victims groups, as well as all political parties across the island of Ireland, North and South, and all human rights organisations. The Bill is a cruel betrayal of victims and will do untold damage to reconciliation should the British Government continue this reckless course. There will be a number of legal challenges and that is why it is important that the burden does not fall solely to victims who have already been impacted by the failing of the British state over multiple decades to deliver the truth, justice and accountability to which those victims are entitled. Will the Taoiseach commit to an interstate case to be taken to the European Court of Human Rights if the British Government continues with this unilateral action? This reckless and unilateral disregard for international and legally binding agreements sets a dangerous precedent and may have global consequences. We have an obligation, and the Taoiseach has an obligation, to stop it here and now.

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