Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising this important issue. I join with him in completely condemning what happened in Loughinisland.

I very much agree with them on the point that just because time has passed, it does not mean that issues can be ignored. It does not mean that an approach can be taken to any issue that is not victim centred and is not centred in terms of justice, truth and accountability. I think all parties in this House, and certainly all parties in Northern Ireland, which is a rare event, have rightly come together to condemn and oppose the legacy Act that has been introduced by the British Government. We do not believe it is compliant with agreements that had been reached between the political parties and the governments of Ireland and the UK because we do not believe it is victim centred. It is opposed by every victims' rights group in Northern Ireland and, as I said, it has been opposed by all of the political parties. It represents a significant deviation from the approach that has been taken through a range of agreements over many years. It was with regret that the Irish Government took the decision that it needed to take an interstate case against the United Kingdom. We did not do so lightly and we did not do it without exhausting all the diplomatic and political avenues available to us. We raised this at British-Irish Councils and all the other places one would expect Government and Government representatives to raise it. However, the mind of the British Government was set and the papers have been lodged.

I do not have my note on it to hand but my understanding is that the court is now, in the first instance, considering the case and its admissibility. It will decide on that and how best to proceed. I am conscious that there is a British election soon and I do not want to cut across that. However, I am also aware that there are different views among political parties in the United Kingdom on this matter. For our part as the Government and I appreciate on this basis, all parties in the Dáil, we will continue to speak out and speak up for victims and survivors and for the need for justice, truth and reconciliation. Any approach to legacy has to be one that has the support of political parties in Northern Ireland. It has to be compliant with human rights law and have the confidence of victims' representative groups and others. We will take every opportunity to continue to make that case. I intend to meet the British Prime Minister after the results of the UK general election. I hope to be in a position to do that in July. This is one of the many issues I wish discuss.

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