Bill to address pledges on Troubles co-operation
The Minister for Justice has published draft legislation aimed at addressing the legacy of the Troubles after receiving Government approval.
The General Scheme of the Legacy of the Troubles Bill 2026 sets out how the Government will legislate to implement its commitments under an agreement reached with the British government last September.
Under that joint framework, Britain agreed to key changes to its legacy legislation – including significant reform of the governance and processes of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) which is to be re-named and re-purposed as the Legacy Commission.
Legacy Commission
The Department of Justice says that the bill’s proposals will facilitate “the fullest possible co-operation” by the relevant Irish authorities with the Legacy Commission, when established, and with Troubles-related public inquiries in Britain.
It also provides for the establishment of the cross-border Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR), foreseen in the 2015 Stormont House Agreement, to help families to find answers about the deaths of their loved ones during the Troubles.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that the publication of the proposals, in conjunction with the signing into law of the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Act 2026 last week, was “a strong demonstration that the Government will not be found wanting in relation to addressing the legacy of the past”.
‘Fully reciprocal’
“The proposals will facilitate co-operation, in respect of both documentary materials and the taking of sworn testimony, with the non-criminal fact-finding investigations and inquisitorial proceedings to be carried out by the UK Legacy Commission, once established, and with public inquiries,” he stated.
The minister added that, in line with commitment in the joint framework agreed with Britain in September, this co-operation would be “fully reciprocal”, with the British government and its authorities providing similar co-operation to investigations, inquests, and inquiries in Ireland.
The minister must await the enactment of Britain’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which sets up the Legacy Commission, before presenting the bill to the Oireachtas.
The proposals will now be referred to the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.