Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Tánaiste. Along with the paralysis of the ongoing suspension of Stormont, the other main issue of deep concern to citizens on the island of Ireland and further afield is, as other Senators said, the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill the Westminster government seems to be persisting in progressing through its legislative process. This Bill would provide immunity for people accused of crimes during the Troubles, as long as they co-operate with the new independent commission for reconciliation and information recovery. It has been criticised by political parties in Northern Ireland, which is refreshing - they do not agree on too much but this Bill is one thing they all agree on - as well as victims and human rights groups. However, the British Government seems to be persisting in its stance of ignoring the view of all democratically elected politicians in Northern Ireland. The Bill has passed Committee Stage in the House of Lords and Report Stage is scheduled for 21 June. The UK Government has begun to appoint members of the body responsible for it.

It was widely reported in the media recently that the Ulster Volunteer Force, UVF, provided answers to a family concerning a 1974 murder in Belfast. The late John Crawford, a father of nine, was shot dead in west Belfast in January 1974. Almost 50 years later, the family of the late Mr. Crawford was given a report by loyalist paramilitaries setting out the circumstances of the killing. His son, Paul, got the report from the UVF. It is important to point out that an investigation by the Historical Enquiries Team, HET, confirmed his father's innocence. Mr. Paul Crawford began a seven-year communication with an intermediary to try to get some answers. He said it meant that the greatest degree of resolution possible has been obtained. It was reported in the media that he said:

I do not believe in closure – my father was brutally and unjustifiably taken from us and that is a wound that will never heal – but as far as I am concerned this process has delivered absolutely full answers and full resolution of what I was seeking.

It does not undo the immense, irreversible hurt. However, that family got a crumb of comfort. It is great to give them anything as they suffered so much, but they might be one of the last families to get such comfort. Due to the decision of the British Government to proceed against the wishes of the Northern Ireland parties, families will not be afforded the explanation Mr. Paul Crawford was given.

Professor Kieran McEvoy, a professor of law at Queen's University Belfast, said that the fact the British Government has now abandoned the terms of the agreement meant that the option of going through interlocutors was now lost to families. Under the controversial UK Government proposals, which, as I said, are progressively working their way through its parliament, all civil and criminal options would effectively be shut down to families of the Troubles' victims. The issues with the Bill are being condemned not just by people in Northern Ireland but international bodies and experts. The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers has stated several times that it has serious concerns about the Bill and whether it is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The UN Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed similar concerns and called on the UK Government to withdraw the Bill. Ireland's ambassador to the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, Mr. Breifne O'Reilly, has said that, as the Bill is currently drafted, the UK is seeking to introduce an amnesty for crimes that amounts to gross human rights violations.

The Irish Government's position is that it has not ruled out taking legal action against the UK Government if it proceeds with the Bill. I hope the British Government has been left in no doubt that it is quite likely that should and will happen, if the Bill is enacted. The Bill must have the concerns of victims and their families, not perpetrators, front and centre. An article by several academics in Queen's University Belfast looked at whether Northern Ireland had received a peace dividend following the Good Friday Agreement. It found that since 1998, Northern Ireland had the strongest employment growth of any region in the UK outside of London; the total number of people employed had increased by 27.7% by 2022; and unemployment has fallen although, at 8.9%, it is still higher than the UK average.

There have been many positives for the people of Northern Ireland, including the reform of the police service. At that time, who would have thought it was possible to change the name of the RUC? It is never too late. David Trimble and others stood up, although Ian Paisley was very late coming to the table. As we are so grateful for the Good Friday Agreement, it would be churlish or mean-spirited not to mention the leaders of militant republicanism who played a crucial part in bringing about a resolution. It is also important to acknowledge the role of Fianna Fáil, the republican party. The Acting Chair, Senator Wilson, is a very proud Ulsterman with a very proud republican tradition. Fianna Fáil is a party of fervent constitutional republicans. It would have been so easy to go off-script and come up with slogans, but it held the line at a most critical time. That was unlike one of its predecessors, who did some good, but at the time of Anglo-Irish Agreement we did not all have unity of thought and expression and the then leader of Fianna Fáil opposed that agreement. I accept that was maybe a different time and different climate.

I believe we will not have an authentic peace until we have healing, reconciliation and understanding, and more brave leadership, taking risks and compromise for a long-term lasting peace.