Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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167. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a report on the joint framework on legacy issues published with the Northern Ireland secretary recently. [56952/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 19 September, together with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, I announced the publication of the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles.

The Framework sets out a comprehensive package aimed at providing truth, accountability, and, to the extent possible, justice for victims and families who lost loved ones during the Troubles, and is a welcome return to partnership by the two Governments on Northern Ireland, working as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. It represents a clear break with the 2023 UK Legacy Act, which was opposed by all political parties, victims and survivors groups, and wider civil society in Northern Ireland.

The ICRIR will be renamed the Legacy Commission and a suite of changes will ensure much improved independence and investigative functions of the Commission. A new Inquisitorial Mechanism will be established within this Commission and hearings under this mechanism will be presided over by judges.

The Legacy Act’s prohibition on inquests will be removed and inquests which had commenced but were halted by the Legacy Act will recommence.

The two governments will establish a standalone, cross-border information retrieval body, as foreseen in the Stormont House Agreement, on a pilot basis.

Importantly, the Framework is underpinned by a commitment to reciprocal cooperation. The Government will ensure the necessary arrangements are put in place to facilitate the fullest possible cooperation by the relevant Irish authorities with the Legacy Commission. In turn, the UK authorities will provide reciprocal cooperation to Ireland for investigations, inquests and inquiries in legacy cases.

A dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána will be established by the end of the year as a single point of contact for cross-border cooperation on Troubles-related cases and as a central point of contact and coordination for victims and families.

The Government also commits €25m to support the engagement of victims and families with the new legacy processes.

The British Government published their Bill to give effect to these changes on 14 October. I welcome the speed at which the British government has brought forward the Bill. This demonstrates the seriousness with which the Secretary of State and his colleagues are approaching this essential work.

My Department is currently examining the legislation closely.

I believe that, once faithfully translated into legislation, these measures will meet my two key tests: compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and, over time, securing the confidence of victims and survivors.