Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 11 Jul 2024
TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn have met at Hillsborough Castle this evening.
Ahead of the meeting Martin told reporters that the stability of the Northern Irish institutions, British and Irish relations, the Legacy Act and a shared island will be on the agenda.
This evening was their first official meeting, since Benn became Northern Ireland Secretary, and comes as officials in both London and Dublin have expressed a need to “reset” relations.
Speaking to reporters before the meeting today, Martin said he was feeling “positive” about the future of the relationship between the British and Irish governments and that his main focus is re-establishing the “speed accord” of the Good Friday Agreement.
“I do believe we have an opportunity the advance the situation on a wide range of issues. To deal with the Legacy [Act] issue – on an amicable basis – and work towards that.
“But also to update the Secretary of State in respect of the Shared Island and the impact that is having on a lot of projects and communities cross-border,” Martin said.
The UK’s controversial Legacy Act, which offers a limited form of immunity for perpetrators of Troubles crimes, was the key issue discussed between the ministers today.
Benn previously said a Labour government would restore legacy inquests and the ability for Troubles victims to bring civil cases. He added that a Labour Government would remove a controversial part of the Act designed to provide conditional immunity for some Troubles offences.
The Irish Government launched an interstate legal case against the UK, claiming that the Legacy Act breaches the European Convention on Human Rights. That case is still to be heard.
Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Taoiseach Simon Harris was asked if the government would drop its case against the UK and replied that “we need to take this on a step-by-step basis”.
Asked, ahead of the meeting this evening, if it is conceivable that Ireland would drop its inter-State case against the UK, Martin said that the issue will be explored this evening and reminded the media that there are mechanisms within the legal framework which will allow both Governments to resolve the matter out of court.
“We believe that the pressing issue on the Legacy [case] is to restore trust in the legacy framework for the victims and families of those who lost their lives in the atrocities. And it’s about the victims, the families. We have to restore trust. That is the key agenda item.”
The Tánaiste added: “I am positive there are opportunities here that both the British and Irish Governments can exploit and I’m confident that, if we work together, we can advance reconciliation – that is my key agenda in the time ahead.”
Funding for Casement Park, earmarked to host Euro 2028 games, was also on the meeting agenda.
Benn last week pledged that Casement Park will be rebuilt “one way or another” but added that it was uncertain if the stadium would be completed in time for Euro 2028. He also remarked that Casement Park was “probably the most urgent issue” on his desk.
After the meeting today, Martin said with both Governments working “in partnership”, they can help Northern Ireland “realise its full potential as a prosperous, peaceful and reconciled society”.
“A strong British-Irish relationship is good for all the people of these islands,” he added.
Includes reporting by Muiris O’Cearbhaill
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
This president is amazing. MaryRobinson was a great for international relations but this little fella is what Ireland needs now. His articulation is perfect and his ideas are what we should be striving towards. BRILLIANT………..!!!
Nice planet you live on there Al – yourself and Michael D. If you manage to get back to Ireland 2013 join the protests tomorrow evening again austerity, cuts, water charges, evictions, emigration and property tax imposed on us by Michael D Higgins’ Labour, the 4.5% Party
Al, 100 per cent agree.
That flag needs to be out flying in the fields and roads of Ireland so we can reclaim this country from the failed politics of FF, FG and LAb.
These charlatans in the Labour Party have no concept of what the Starry Plough really stands for. The great men of the Irish Citizen Army would be appalled to be associated in any way with today’s Labour Party in any way. Just words from Higgins, if he meant them he would have taken a different journey than staying in the Labour Party for all those years
A new version of Irishness? Is that an app I can download or what? This guy is a joke and the biggest yes man going.
A lot of vitriol in these comments towards Michael D. Higgins who is just about the last person in the sphere of Irish politics who deserves it.
Agree with you Al, but in my opinion he wasted as president, feel like he has a lot more to say but can’t go that far
It must be so easy for Higgins to lecture us, the plebs, on morality and hardship with his 6 digit salary and pension. Then again I can’t say I am surprised, he is in Labour after all.
What do they mean by the ‘conservation’ of the flag? Are they repairing the original one or is it a special ceremony or what?
A new version of Irish ness? One that includes jailing bankers, not paying back illegal gambling debts, and taking care f our citizens first?
Good God…this man reminds me more and more of Uncle Albert every day! How much does the office of President cost us again?
I have a yearning that politicos would cease these meandering, worthless discourses on claptrap like “renewing Irishness” and actually come up with something tangible and workable for once.
Whenever I hear a politician talking about Irishness, I know meaningless navel-gazing waffle is forthcoming and plenty of worthies will be having a good old jaw over four course dinners on the topic, itself a complete abstract and totally irrelevance.
Enlighten us with your philosophy. Anything positive to say?.
That Communist prat is way by his sell by date. He’s not supposed to be “political” so how come he’s not fired.
@William the fact that you call him a communist shows that you have absolutely no clue what you’re talking about
What’s the difference between Higgins and a Communist then?
Higgins constantly talks about being a social democrat for one. He often refers to the need of a defined “social floor”, a floor that people in our capitalist society should not be allowed to fall under. Words over actions aside, he seems fine with the capitalist system as long as there are those safety nets for the most vulnerable in our society. How does that make him a “communist”? (switch off Fox News pal, it hinders your perception)
The only real communists on this planet are Buddhists William, you may have noticed our Uachtarán lives in a big house in the middle of town.
Love that prez
I hope the champagne socialist didn’t show up.
I can only imagine how our Irish Citizen Army heroes feel about how Labour had turned there back on the working classes since the 1980s!
That man lives in a Fantasy world far removed from what’s going on outside the Park
Even though i voted for Mr Higgins it was by process of elimination rather than any admiration,i knew his ideas were socialist left,and me being a free market man who provided employment for people in my life,i still cant get my head around the fact that Ireland admires such people as poets more than those that create the wealth the country needs for its citizens.
Nobody needs wealth Richard. What we need is stability, security and freedom from the shackles of past ideologies. Creating wealth got us into this mess, and it’s not going to get us out. What’s wrong with admiring Poets? I have to say that Higgins was not even on my radar as a politician, but as Uachtarán I think he has come of age.
because the propagators of the free market only care about personal profit. They’re hardly going to be popular in a country where people are directly paying for the collapse of a unregulated the neo liberal, free market economy. I can see where you are coming from in relation to the “wealth creators” but the balance of regulation is so important. A balance that protects the ecomony from wreckless, short term profits while at the same time ensuring that the market is not over regulated, stifling investment and expansion of the private sector. I’m living in Canada at the moment and you can really see how this method (particularly in their banking system) had worked for them in comparison to the “free market” Americans.
Sounds good but the fact is we will only survive as a country by creating jobs for our people.
There is unfortunately no alternative to capitalism as an economic system. It promotes innovation and is highly ptoductive, even Marx acknowledged that in his Manifesto. It is the type of capitalism that we allow that is the problem. Unregulated and unhindered by trade unions it will devour itself. In the USA fir example the average industrial wage has remained static while the income of the top decile has increaded by about 23 per cent. In the globalised labour force capital can be shifted around electronically , undermining the economies of nation states and exploiting poor workrrs, resulting in disasters like that collapsed building in Bangladesh. I for one think President O Higgins is on the money. He is a welcone voice out there in a cacophony of neo liberalism.
I hope he is right in what he says. Capitalism doesn’t believe in society but I do.
Irishness: does he mean the gombeen tendency or the sheep like obedience to the master?
Ya ya ya…… Zzzzzzzzzz.
Although I am not a Socialist, I admire Michael D and I consider he to be the best President for Ireland in these difficult times. The Plough and the Stars is a wonderful historical flag and reminds us of the land where so many of us have come from and the Stars which we look up to on a good night.
Great insightful speech by President Michael D.
It more like we’re yearning for a revolution
I remember last year some criminals sawed off the stars for scrap. Good to see the statue back to its original glory, never gets enough attention.
In what sector in Irish is individualist? The govenment grew under the PDs.
It’s good to see that the president is addressing the important issues facing Irish society today.
have your say