Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
108. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the ruling earlier this year by the High Court in Belfast in relation to the UK government’s legacy legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20769/24]
View answerI have noted the judgment of the High Court of Northern Ireland in the matter of Re Dillon and Others, delivered on 28 February 2024. I understand that the appeal in this case is due to be heard in the Court of Appeal in the near future.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has lodged an inter-state application against the United Kingdom with the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Government considers that certain provisions of that Act are incompatible with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, and in particular Article 2 (right to life), Article 3 (prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment), Article 6 (right to fair trial), Article 13 (right to an effective remedy), and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the Convention.
The Government’s inter-state application is currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights, and will be examined by the Court in due course.
