The Tánaiste has welcomed that the UK has begun the process of repealing the Legacy Act.
The UK’s Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, announced in the House of Commons last night that the British government will follow through with its promise to repeal and replace the Act.
The controversial law was pushed through by the previous Conservative government. It was supposed to “promote reconciliation”. But a ban on “criminal investigations, legal proceedings, inquests and police complaints” was heavily criticised by rights groups.
The Labour government has indicated, however, that it plans to keep the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) which was set up as part of the law.
Some victims groups have reportedly called for the ICRIR to be scrapped.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he had discussed the Legacy Act with Hilary Benn at a meeting of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Dublin earlier this week.
“The key tests for the Irish government in respect of reforms of the Legacy Act are compliance with the European Convention of Human Rights, and the ability to command the confidence of victims and survivors”, Micheál Martin said this morning in a statement.
The two ministers are due to meet again today, this time in Edinburgh for the British Irish Council Summit. The Tánaiste says they will again discuss plans for the Legacy Act.