UK and Irish governments must ‘step up’ on Troubles Bill, says Chris Bryant
Speaking to reporters in Dublin, the Northern Ireland Secretary said it is ‘full steam ahead’ with the Troubles Bill.
The UK and Irish Governments need to “step up to the plate” with Troubles legacy legislation, the Northern Ireland Secretary has said.
Sir Chris Bryant said a strong relationship with Dublin and the progressing of the stalled legacy Bill is “essential to the future” of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Government.
In September the UK Government, then led by Sir Keir Starmer, made several commitments as part of a joint framework with the Irish Government on dealing with the legacy of the Troubles.
This included major reforms of a body tasked with investigating unsolved Troubles murders, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
The Labour Government’s legislation is aiming to replace the controversial Legacy Act brought in by the previous Conservative government.
Former Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn committed to adding amendments to the Bill to protect military veterans, including measures such as no repeated investigations, a requirement to consider the age and welfare of veterans, and that any veteran can give evidence remotely and anonymously.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Sir Chris said it is “full steam ahead” with the Troubles Bill.
“There’s some things we’ve got to amend to make sure we’ve got it absolutely right before it goes through to the House of Lords, we’ll be tabling some amendments in the next few days,” he said.
“We’ve also got to make sure that we, in the UK Government, and of course here in the Dublin government, everybody does everything that we need to be able to get the answers for families.
“Because in the end, this is about many families who’ve lived for 30 years with pain and anguish and often a deep, deep sense of resentment.
“They need answers, and that means we’ve got to step up to the plate, the Irish Government’s got to step up to the plate, and we need to do that in lockstep.”
He added: “I sometimes worry that some people have misunderstood some of the purpose of the Bill.
“In the end, what’s the Bill about? It’s about getting answers for families, all sorts of different kinds of families. From the nationalist and the loyalist community, from families who had loved ones who were killed in the RUC or as part of Operation Banner. A whole series of different kinds of communities that need those answers.
“Yes, we will be introducing some amendments when we bring it back to the House of Commons. I very much want to get it onto the statute book. And one of the reasons I’m here in Dublin is I want to make sure that both the UK government and the Irish Government – we’re working in lockstep to be able to get the answers that families need.
“That’s only going to happen if you get transparency from us and from the Irish Government.”
Sir Chris earlier stated: “The single most important thing for me to say here is that we want to have as strong a relationship with the government here in Ireland as possible.
“It’s vital to us, not least because one of the big things in Northern Ireland is resolving many of the issues that still hang over us in relation to the Troubles.
“So, getting to a place where we can get the Troubles Bill through and having a strong relationship with the Irish Government is essential to the future of Andy Burnham’s Government.”
Sir Chris was joined on his first official visit to Dublin by Northern Ireland minister Baroness Ruth Anderson and British ambassador to Dublin Kara Owen, who was appointed by Mr Burnham in July.
The Northern Ireland Secretary met the Irish ministers for justice and foreign affairs on his first official visit to Dublin on Monday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said: “I reiterated the need for both Governments to deliver on the commitments we have made under the Joint Framework and outlined the progress made by the Irish Government in this regard.
“Victims and families have waited too long for truth and accountability, and I hope to see the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill progress through Parliament shortly, so that both Governments fully meet our commitments under the Joint Framework.”