British and Irish governments to unveil new Troubles legacy proposals

"The British and Irish governments are to unveil a new framework to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's Troubles in an effort to resolve an issue that has bedevilled politics in the region and relations between London and Dublin. Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland secretary, and Simon Harris, Ireland's foreign minister, are scheduled to publish the long-awaited proposals on Friday after a year of negotiations to overhaul the controversial Legacy Act passed by the Conservative government in 2023."

"The framework will outline new legislation that both sides will need to pass to create a reformed agency that will be tasked with investigating Troubles-era crimes. The joint proposals reflect a reset in relations between Dublin and London after years of toxicity from Brexit and legacy-related disputes during successive Conservative administrations. Intense behind-the-scenes talks between officials, and a meeting last week between Keir Starmer and the taoiseach, Micheal Martin, paved the framework that Benn and Harris are to announce at Hillsborough Castle in County Down."

The British and Irish governments will publish a framework to address the legacy of Northern Ireland's Troubles and to repair strained bilateral relations. Hilary Benn and Simon Harris will present proposals after a year of negotiations aimed at overhauling the 2023 Legacy Act. The framework proposes new legislation to establish a reformed legacy commission with enhanced investigative powers and a separate agency to provide information retrieval for families. Dublin seeks compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and is maintaining an inter-state case alleging the Legacy Act breached human-rights obligations while urging confidence from victims' groups.

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