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

The United Kingdom Government published an extensive list of amendments to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill last week. We have opposed the Bill from the outset. It is a unilateral action and I have been consistent in this House in calling out unilateral actions by the British Government in respect of issues under the Good Friday Agreement. I believe the most effective way forward is a collective approach between the two Governments and, in the context of legacy, the political parties and groups representing families and victims of all those killed and injured during the Troubles.

Our analysis of the amendments published is they will not allay our fundamental concerns or those of many others about this Bill and its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights. We will continue to urge our UK counterparts to pause the Bill and return to the table in the spirit of partnership. There has been growing international concern about this. We are aware of calls for the Irish Government to take an interstate case against the United Kingdom before the European Court of Human Rights on the legacy Bill. It is premature to take decisions on that. We will keep this under review and the option is there if our decision is to go down this route. We will continue to engage with the British Government to see if we can get this Bill paused.

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