Irish government 'does not have clean hands' and must be challenged over Troubles says leader of the DUP
The Irish government must not be allowed to “criticise others while doing nothing themselves”, the leader of the DUP has said.
Gavin Robinson called on the UK government to challenge its Dublin counterpart over the state’s role in the Troubles, adding that the Republic of Ireland has not got “clean hands”.
Mr Robinson was speaking as representatives of the two governments met at Farmleigh House in Dublin today for the latest gathering of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.
Under discussion were the new Troubles arrangements which have been agreed between the two states.
Speaking at the meeting, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris said the two governments have "to grasp this window of opportunity" to provide "truth, accountability and, where possible, justice" for the victims of the Troubles and their families.
Mr Harris also thanked the British government for "bringing forward the UK legislation to amend the 2023 Legacy Act so swiftly".
In September, British and Irish leaders unveiled a joint framework to address longstanding legacy issues in Northern Ireland.
One measure is the introduction of UK legislation known as the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, aimed at reforming parts of the 2023 Legacy Act.
The 2023 act halted civil cases and inquests into Troubles deaths, and included a conditional offer of immunity for perpetrators of Troubles crimes in exchange for co-operation with a truth recovery body.
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill restores inquests and civil cases, and revamps that truth recovery body.
Meanwhile the gardai will set up a dedicated Troubles unit, and the Irish state will co-operate with UK government legacy processes.
Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said today that legislation will be published in spring next year to ensure “we fully co-operate with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and the agreement that’s been put in place” by the two governments, while the new garda unit will be established by the end of this year.
He also said the conference had discussed the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and that last week he put new data protection regulations that “enabled the provision of sensitive information” to the inquiry.
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will have its second reading in the House of Commons today and Mr Harris said that, as currently drafted, it "reflects what we have previously negotiated and agreed in the joint framework" (however, according to the UK government last week, the Irish state is waiting to see how the UK government implements this framework before agreeing to drop its legal case against the Legacy Act in the European Court of Human Rights).
As the two governments met in Dublin today, the DUP leader Mr Robinson issued a statement in which he said: “Innocent victims consistently raise the Irish government’s refusal to take responsibility for its own role in the Troubles and its failure to honour any of the commitments it has previously made.
"The Irish government does not have clean hands.
"Victims repeatedly highlight how terrorists operated from the Republic of Ireland, carried out attacks in Northern Ireland, and then sought sanctuary across the border.
"Dublin has offered warm words but no action.
"The Republic of Ireland programme for government promised legislation almost nine months ago. None has appeared.
"The joint framework contains 10 pages. On the final page, there are three paragraphs on commitments from the Irish. None have progressed.
"The time has long passed for the Irish Government to criticise others while doing nothing themselves.
"Hilary Benn must raise these failures today.
"If he does not, he will be asked to account for that tomorrow when Parliament considers the Troubles legislation.”
Speaking in Dublin today, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said of the relationship between the two governments: “It is probably fair to say it is better than it’s ever been.
“Here we are marking, in the last week, the 40th anniversary of the Anglo Irish Agreement, and once again, I think our two governments are demonstrating that when the United Kingdom and Ireland work together, particularly in respect of Northern Ireland, real progress is possible.”