Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have spoken before on the importance of getting the Executive up and running. The drift that we are experiencing at the minute cannot continue. Obviously, that will need to be dealt with. The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference met yesterday at the Mansion House. A joint communiqué was issued after the meeting, stating that the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill 2022 was discussed, as were the Irish Government's concerns in relation to it. There was also mention of concern in respect of a number of particular legacy cases. I think it is fair to say that the British Government seems to be steaming ahead with this legislation. When questions were put to the junior minister at the Northern Ireland Office, Jonathan Caine. he said there were no signs that this legislation would be paused. I think there is absolute agreement on the island of Ireland in relation to how wrong this legislation is. My view is the view that I presented last week. I believe this is about the British Government not being willing to accept its role in Ireland and the dirty war that it played. It is necessary that we have some information about how those concerns were put across and what the British Government was told about how willing the Irish Government is to go on this matter.

We will have to look at legal recourse if the British Government goes ahead and introduces this absolutely disgraceful legislation.

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