Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In Stormont House in 2014, the Irish and British Governments and most of Northern Ireland's parties agreed a way forward on legacy which would meet the needs of victims, uphold human rights and contribute to reconciliation. This approach endorsed was again in the Fresh Start and New Decade, New Approach agreements. The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill published by the British Government in May 2022 is a unilateral move away from this approach.

This Bill as it stands currently is not fit for purpose. We believe that the granting of immunity from prosecution for crimes such as unlawful killing would be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. We are also concerned about the shutting down of all other avenues to truth and justice (inquests, police investigations, Police Ombudsman investigations and civil cases). It is my strong view that the amendments made so far fail to sufficiently alter the Bill to address our concerns about its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights and its impact on the fundamental work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

I most recently met with the Secretary of State at the June meetings of the British Irish Council and the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference. On both occasions I outlined my specific and serious concerns about its provisions and urged him to pause the progress of the current Bill, and to return to a collective approach, which includes victims and survivors. These concerns were also expressed publicly in the press conference that followed the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference, where I also raised the Dublin-Monaghan (and Belturbet) Bombings and the UK’s planned statutory inquiry on the Omagh bombing, for which a Chair has now been announced.

International observers continue to express their opposition to the UK Legacy Bill as it has progressed through the British Parliament. Most recently, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, the US Ad Hoc Committee to Protect the Good Friday Agreement, and the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers have all reiterated their strong concerns around the Bill's compliance with international human rights legislation. This demonstrates the extent to which the British Government is acting alone. In contrast to the Stormont House agreement, this Bill does not have the support of parties in Northern Ireland, or victims and families.

I will continue to convey the Government’s strong opposition to the Legacy Bill to the Secretary of State and continue to encourage the British Government to pause this Bill and return to the partnership approach that has successfully produced a lasting peace for the people of these islands for 25 years.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The UK government introduced secondary legislation in March to start to put in place its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme from Autumn 2023. Under the scheme non-Visa required nationals will need to obtain an ETA before travelling to the UK.

The ETA requirement will not apply to Irish citizens due to the Common Travel Area arrangements. Following extensive engagement by the Government with the UK government, the UK secondary legislation introduced last March also established an exemption for legal residents of Ireland.

This exemption is welcome. However, the fact that no exemption has been provided for international tourists who wish to travel from Ireland to Northern Ireland is a matter of significant concern for the Government and for the tourism industry, both North and South.

I once again raised the Government’s concerns regarding the UK’s ETA proposals with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the most recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) in London on 19 June. I underlined that the successful promotion of tourism on an all-island basis is one of the standout examples of cooperation under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement. I also emphasized that the ETA scheme presents particular risks to the tourism industry in Northern Ireland, given that a majority of international visitors travel to Northern Ireland via this jurisdiction.

Officials from my Department and the Department of Justice are in ongoing contact with UK Government counterparts on its planning for implementation of the ETA scheme. For example, concerns were raised about the scheme’s anticipated impact on tourism and travel on the island of Ireland at a Common Travel Area plenary meeting on 5 July.

The Government will continue to engage with the UK government on this matter.