THE Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has called on the UK Government to withdraw its contentious Legacy Bill.
The controversial bill has been heavily criticized and has received opposition from the US and EU and every political party in Ireland, as well as human rights and victims’ groups. In this month's amendments to the Bill, the British government have stated that any ongoing Troubles-related criminal investigations, inquests and considerations for prosecutions will only be allowed to carry on until 1 May 2024.
It is viewed by many victims of state violence as an amnesty for British military personnel who were operating in the North of Ireland during the conflict.
Deputy Fergus O'Dowd TD, Chair of the Joint Committee, said: "Since the Bill was first announced, the Committee has met with many victims and their families. We have witnessed their anguish at the prospect of losing vital opportunities to find out the truth of what happened to their loved ones and hold perpetrators to account. This Bill risks traumatizing these victims once more.
"The Bill flies in the face of the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. It is considered unacceptable by every political party in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It has also been criticised by the overwhelming majority of victims’ representative organisations, by civil society, church leaders, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Council of Europe, as well as Westminster’s Joint Committee on Human Rights.
RFJ warmly welcomes this considered statement from this all-party and influential Joint Oireachtas group.
— Relatives 4 Justice #NeverGivingUp (@RelsForJustice) June 26, 2023
It builds on genuine dialogue and engagement https://t.co/p1XwBJkWF2
"The Committee emphasises that the Bill is a unilateral move away from the 2014 Stormont House Agreement in which parties in Northern Ireland, together with the British and Irish governments, decided on mechanisms to better assist these families, and to pursue justice. That agreement was endorsed again by both governments, in the 2015 Fresh Start and the 2020 New Decade, New Approach deals.
"The Committee has sought to communicate its grave concerns at this proposal throughout the legislative process. While we welcome engagement with the Committee by Lord Caine and others, we are disappointed that our concerns and those of victims have not been addressed. The Committee calls on the British Government to withdraw the Legacy Bill. If the Bill is enacted, the Committee will ask the Irish Government to consider interstate litigation in the European Court of Human Rights. This course of action would demonstrate tangible support and solidarity with victims' campaigners by sparing them the costly and arduous task of bringing individual cases to challenge the Bill.
"This year we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The Agreement was an extraordinary achievement of the UK and Irish Governments. The result of the Agreement – peace in Northern Ireland – was painstakingly achieved and must be protected. The work of reconciliation remains incomplete and could be undermined by the proposals in this Bill."
Standing in solidarity with families who are still fighting for truth & justice and against the British Government’s proposed Legacy Bill.
This bill is callous & cruel.
It breaches international law & will not deliver for victims.
The Bill should be scrapped immediately! pic.twitter.com/6nO0mSSeyV
— John Finucane MP (@johnfinucane) June 21, 2023
The Committee has called on the UK Government to engage with the Irish Government in a "spirit of partnership to find a way forward".
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomed the Dublin decision and called on the British Government to withdraw the legislation.
“It is welcome that the Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Committee has today called on the British Government to withdraw its Legacy Bill,” said Mr. Finucane.
“This call, and the concerns raised, is echoed by victims and families, human rights experts, the UN, all the political parties on this island, as well as officials in the US and EU.
“We have consistently said that this legislation is flawed and is a cynical attempt to shut the door on victims and families’ efforts to achieve truth and justice.
“I would again urge the Taoiseach to meet with victims’ groups to discuss their concerns about this shameful legacy bill and their continued campaigns for truth and justice.
“The British Government should scrap this legislation and get on with implementing the legacy mechanisms agreed at Stormont House by the two governments and political parties in 2014 in a human rights' compliant manner.”
