Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House this morning. I propose to speak to the UK Government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. Over the past year, I have met with Lord Caine, who seemed to take the lead on this on behalf of the UK Government, on three separate occasions. I will say at the outset how disappointed I am in him from what he told us from day one about how he was going to take on the concerns of individuals, families, and ourselves. The sad reality is that on the two occasions I followed up with colleagues from both Houses on other meetings, nothing had changed. Legislation like this should have victims front and centre and what has happened here is completely the opposite. It is a reckless piece of legislation by the British Government. It reminds us of the Thatcherite politics of the past. This legislation is retraumatising victims. It is wrong that victims have to go to take cases themselves and this is where Government needs to step in. Senator McGreehan is not here at the moment but she was also very anxious that I put this Commencement Matter forward today.

This Act also completely undermines the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. The fact that one of the guarantors is acting unilaterally in the manner in which they have, breaks many human rights laws. There are many victim groups in Northern Ireland. Gráinne Taggart from Amnesty International has been on the phone to me a lot. There is the WAVE Trauma Centre and other organisations. Representatives of these organisations are all hoping and praying the Irish Government will step up to look after their interests. It is imperative we do not spend too much time doing the paperwork and ensuring our i's are dotted and our t's are crossed. It is imperative that we move in time. We cannot take too long to decide if we are going to take a case to the European Court of Human Rights. It is only right that we do. It is well known and well documented that this legislation breaks many human rights' codes. It is not good enough that victims are left having to take cases with no other avenue to deal with this. I look forward to the Minister's reply.