Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Deputy Brendan Smith has called for a debate in the Dáil on the passage of the UK Legacy Bill. The Cavan-Monaghan TD believes the "flawed legislation" will deny justice to families bereaved during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The controversial bill offers conditional amnesty to those accused of killings and prevents future civil cases and inquests into Troubles offences.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Deputy Smith said that he has worked with local families over the years, who have campaigned with "great grace" and "dignity" for the truth to be established.
He believes that through this legislation, those families will continue to endure the pain of loss and their desire for accountability, justice and truth.
As a result, Deputy Smith is calling for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to bring forward a Dáil motion expressing its total opposition to what the British government has "forced through its parliament," according to Deputy Smith.
"This is a totally unacceptable piece of legislation," he told Northern Sound. "It's not the type of legislation that we would expect from any parliamentary democracy in the Western world. It's a deplorable piece of legislation. It's not about the victims, this legislation is actually handing an amnesty to murderers and people who have committed other heinous crimes who can literally absolve themselves from those desperate crimes. It's not acceptable."
Deputy Smith continued; "I know that the Tánaiste has sought legal advice about a challenge to the legislation in the European Court of Human Rights - and we await the outcome of that.
"However, I strongly feel that Dáil Éireann should formally record its opposition to this atrocity amnesty. No-one, whether in the IRA, the INLA, the UVF, the UFF, the RUC or the British Army should escape justice for committing heinous crimes. It is very important that Dáil Éireann sends that message."
