Taoiseach hears opposing views on NI legacy from Stormont parties

By Rebecca Black, Press Association

The Taoiseach has heard starkly opposing views on dealing with Northern Ireland’s troubled past during meetings with Stormont parties.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is meeting with all of the main Northern Ireland political parties at Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast.

The Taoiseach arrived at Parliament Buildings on Thursday morning, and was greeted at the door by Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots.

During his first meeting, Sinn Féin president Mary-Lou McDonald said she told Martin that the concerns of victims need to be addressed in the joint framework on legacy between the UK and Irish Governments.

Speaking to reporters at Stormont, McDonald urged that “we do not go down the road of the British Government pandering to their veterans and compromising the effectiveness and the legality of the legacy framework”.

She added: “We have been given assurances that there will be absolute vigilance on the part of the Irish Government in that regard, and that the interstate case still remains live.”

McDonald said it is important the UK Government understands it could not “walk away from the real need for effective and fully legally compliant legacy mechanisms”.

The Taoiseach’s second meeting was with a DUP delegation, which included leader Gavin Robinson and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

Robinson said he is “continually disappointed” with the approach of the Irish Government, particularly Ireland’s interstate case against the UK over the Legacy Act, and their “unwillingness to engage” with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, or set up their own parallel inquiry.

“It has always been a disgrace – I’ve indicated to you very clearly – an Irish Government that talks a lot about legacy but has delivered nothing for victims, an Irish Government that has more answers in their top drawer than they have the temerity to give lectures to the UK Government,” he said.

“They continually ask a lot of others, but they fail time and time and time again.”

Martin is also due to meet the other main parties at Stormont, as well as business leaders, and engage with Women’s Aid.

Later, he will mark the signing of a €700 million contract for a new fleet of cross-border trains, before delivering the David Trimble Lecture 2026 at Queen’s University Belfast.

Speaking ahead of his visit, the Taoiseach said he is pleased to be returning to Belfast.

“My visit includes multiple opportunities to hear directly from political, business and civic leaders and to discuss ongoing and evolving all-island priorities which benefit us all,” he said.

“I am also pleased to be delivering the Lord David Trimble Lecture in Queen’s University.

“David played a critical role in the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement.

“The principles and purpose of the Agreement remain central to what my Government does and how we foster relationships across these islands.”

He added: “I am committed to continuing to work toward reconciliation and mutual trust, as we collectively set out to do in 1998, including through the Shared Island Initiative.”