Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his engagement to date with his UK counterparts on Northern Ireland legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4486/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I had a positive call with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, on 24 January. It was an opportunity to reiterate our commitment to work together to fulfil our shared responsibilities as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, including in finding a way forward on legacy issues. We look forward to meeting in-person soon.

We discussed the British Government’s commitment to ‘repeal and replace’ the UK Legacy Act, and we both acknowledged the intensive and constructive work taking place on legacy at official and political level. I reiterated the Government’s commitment to working with the British Government, as well as victims’ groups and political parties in Northern Ireland, to develop a fit-for-purpose mechanism to advance truth and justice for victims and their families. I stressed that any solution must command the confidence of victims and families and be compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights. I also recently met with Northern Ireland Victims and Survivors Groups on legacy matters.

I also emphasised the Government’s determination to play our full part in legacy processes and address the legacy of the conflict in this jurisdiction. We discussed the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, and I underlined the explicit commitment in the Programme for Government to facilitating and supporting the work of the Inquiry.

I am determined to try to find a workable way forward. There is still a distance between the two Governments, but I am committed to making every effort to identify a comprehensive solution.