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Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, has urged the UK and Irish governments to take a stronger stance on the Troubles Bill, which aims to address historical issues in Northern Ireland.
UK and Irish governments must ‘step up’ on Troubles Bill, says Chris Bryant on first Dublin visit In a short exchange with the media, Bryant, the MP for Rhondda and Ogmore in Wales, also said a strong relationship with Dublin was the “single most important thing for me”.
“It’s vital to us, not least because one of the big things in Northern Ireland is resolving many of the issues that are still hanging over in relation to the Troubles. ”‘At least I’m not English’ – How Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood have traded insults down the yearsTesco worker sacked for taking bakery items before they became ‘free to staff’ loses unfair dismissal claimThe Bill will replace the controversial Legacy Act introduced by the previous, Conservative government.
The new legislation will unpick a central provision of the Legacy Act, which was to grant immunity from prosecution to police and paramilitaries implicated in acts of violence in the past. It will also allow the resumption of civil actions by victims and relatives, as well as the holding of inquests into historic deaths.
“Having a strong relationship with the Irish Government is essential to the future of Andy Burnham’s government,” said Bryant. “There are 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, and we’ll be tabling some amendments in the next few days,” he said. He said the UK government and the Dublin Government would do everything needed to be able to get answers for families.
“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 said.
Bryant also said it was his intention to arrive at a settled multiyear budget for Northern Ireland and moveaway from what he described as “sticking plaster” solutions. McEntee, who had her first in-person meeting with Bryant, said their discussions focused on the implementation of the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles as well as political developments in Northern Ireland.
“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,” she said in a statement. “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.
” O’Callaghan, meanwhile, said he had had the opportunity to update the new Northern Ireland Secretary on progress, specifically the establishment of the Garda Troubles Legacy Liaison Unit.
“On security co-operation, the secretary of state and I acknowledged the excellent cross-Border policing and security co-operation that takes place on a daily basis and its critical importance to keeping people safe in both jurisdictions, as underlined by successful policing and security operations recently,” he said. Why is the State’s national equestrian sports body in financial trouble and what will happen to it?
Tesco worker sacked for taking bakery items before they became ‘free to staff’ loses unfair dismissal claimRadiologist who reviewed HSE patient scans had medical licence revoked in two countriesWhy is the State’s national equestrian sports body in financial trouble and what will happen to it? Our politics team's behind-the-scenes take on events of the day. Sent Monday to Friday when the Dáil is in session
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