Irish Government 'Absolutely Reassured' Over Troubles Legacy Bill Changes
The Irish government has expressed that it is "absolutely reassured" that the proposed amendments to the United Kingdom's Troubles legacy bill will align with previously established joint commitments to victims, according to Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee.
McEntee made these remarks following a meeting with Secretary of State Hilary Benn on Thursday, where both governments discussed their ongoing efforts to address the legacy of Northern Ireland's past.
Last September, London and Dublin agreed on a joint framework prior to the UK government's initiative to replace the former legacy act. This move, however, has faced criticism from all political parties and victims' groups in Northern Ireland.
The UK government has encountered pressure from veterans and some Members of Parliament who argue that the legislation does not sufficiently protect veterans.
Earlier in the week, the government passed a carry-over motion permitting the bill to continue its progress through Parliament after prorogation, though the exact date for parliamentary debate remains uncertain.
Before Thursday's meeting, McEntee authored an article in the Belfast Telegraph expressing her "disappointment" at the slow progress of the legacy bill in Parliament.
When questioned by reporters if this indicated concerns about the planned legislative changes, she stated that she had been reassured by the UK government during their meeting and emphasized the need to focus on fulfilling their joint commitments.
The Irish government has indicated plans to introduce legislation in the Dail (Irish Parliament) featuring its own mechanisms to address legacy issues, contingent upon the UK government's bill advancing through its process.
Veterans Should Be 'Properly Treated'
The most recent session of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference was held at Hillsborough Castle.
When asked if the Labour Party was encountering similar difficulties with legacy issues as previous UK administrations, Benn stated the government has a "duty and a responsibility to make sure that those who serve the state to keep the people of Northern Ireland safe are properly treated during the legacy process."
"What's come through today's meeting is we are absolutely determined to get this done, and for each of us to play our part in fulfilling the commitments we made when that framework agreement was signed,"
Benn also expressed his belief that there is a "consensus" between the two governments and described passing Labour's legacy legislation as the "last chance" to address the past.
Earlier this week, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson called on the government to abandon the current bill and start anew, arguing that victims and veterans lack confidence in the proposed measures.
Sinn Féin has also criticized the government's handling of the issue, stating that delays in progressing the legislation "display no thought or empathy for families," and instead appear designed to "placate the British military lobby and the interests of security and intelligence agencies."
The new plan includes the establishment of a Legacy Commission to investigate Troubles-related killings, a separate information recovery body, and a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána (the Irish police force).
