Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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94. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any engagement with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with regard to legacy legislation, especially in view of reported pushback against the UK Government’s plan to repeal such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42669/25]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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95. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his recent engagement with his counterpart in Britain in respect of legislation relating to the troubles, legacy and reconciliation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42743/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together.

Intensive and constructive work has been ongoing since last autumn, at both official and political level, between the Irish and British governments to determine if we can find adequate common ground to move forward together on legacy.

I have been clear that the UK Legacy Act, as it stands, is not fit for purpose. In addressing the legacy of the Troubles, there is a need to develop fit-for-purpose mechanisms to seek truth and justice for victims and their families. We have committed to work towards this in the Programme for Government.

I have had a number of constructive discussions on this issue with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn. On 24 January, in my first call as Tánaiste to the Secretary of State, we committed to focus on making progress on legacy. I had a substantive meeting, primarily focused on legacy issues, with the Secretary of State in Dublin on 26 February, followed by a further discussion on the margins of the Ireland-UK Summit in Liverpool on 6 March.

At the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Hillsborough Castle on 24 April, Secretary of State Benn and I reaffirmed the strong desire to work in partnership and make timely progress so that families can obtain the information and accountability that they deserve and have long sought. This was followed by a detailed discussions on the margins of the British Irish Council on 12-13 June.

I most recently spoke with Secretary of State Benn on 16 July, where we had a further constructive discussion on a possible package of measures to comprehensively address the legacy of the Troubles.

I am aware of the 14 July Westminster Hall debate and the petition that precipitated it. However, my job is to advocate for truth and accountability, including on behalf of survivors and victims' families.

We will continue to work jointly with the UK government to do all we can to reach a framework that is compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights and commands the confidence of survivors and victims’ families.