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NI Troubles: British-Irish meeting overshadowed by asylum issue British-Irish meeting overshadowed by asylum issue
(about 5 hours later)
Micheál Martin and Chris Heaton-Harris arrive for the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference press conferenceMicheál Martin and Chris Heaton-Harris arrive for the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference press conference
A British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) meeting has been overshadowed by tensions between the governments over asylum seekers. Tánaiste (Irish deputy PM) Micheál Martin has denied that a row is developing between Ireland and the UK over asylum seeker policy.
The implementation of the government's controversial legacy act will be on the agenda, but the UK's policy on migrants was also discussed. It comes as ministers from the two governments met in London as part of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) on Monday.
The Irish justice minister was also due to meet the home secretary, but that meeting was postponed on Sunday. One of the main topics discussed was issues around the Legacy Act.
Helen McEntee then pulled out of the conference. The UK government and Northern Ireland were represented by NI secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and Lord Caine.
The Irish government has said it has seen an influx of people coming from Northern Ireland because they are fearful of being sent to Rwanda. While Mr Martin was due to be joined by the Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee, she pulled out of the conference, after a meeting with the UK home secretary James Cleverly, also due to take place on Monday, was postponed at short notice on Sunday night.
A government minister has said the UK is unlikely to take back asylum seekers who have crossed into Ireland until EU-wide asylum rules are changed The BIIGC was set up by the Good Friday Agreement to "promote bilateral cooperation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of the UK and Irish governments".
The BIIGC was set up by the Good Friday Agreement and meets twice a year. It was the first BIIGC since power-sharing at Stormont returned.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris and Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin are among those taking part in the conference. During the meeting, the ministers discussed and welcomed the restoration of that the Northern Ireland Executive, Assembly and North South Ministerial Council.
The last meeting of the BIIGC took place in Dublin in November and focused on efforts to get the power-sharing institutions at Stormont restored. They also spoke about the current security situation, including the reduction of the threat level in Northern Ireland to 'substantial' in March.
This time ministers from the two governments will meet in London.
Mr Martin said that he was "pleased" to be in London for the first meeting of the BIIGC since the restoration of Northern Ireland's power-sharing institutions.
"As ever, there are numerous areas of mutual interest for the governments to discuss and I look forward to another productive conference," he said.
Legacy clashesLegacy clashes
The administrations have previously clashed over the legacy law, as the Irish government has repeatedly opposed the act. A major talking point was the UK's legacy law, which the Irish government has repeatedly opposed.
From Wednesday, inquests into Troubles-related killings which have not concluded by then will close.
The Irish government is taking a case against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
'Full co-operation'
In terms of the Omagh Inquiry, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: "I don't want anything held back in terms of co-operation with Lord Turnbull and I want as full a co-operation as we possibly can give to that inquiry, the victims deserve no less… Our ultimate objective is to do right by the victims."
Ministers also discussed issues of concern in respect of individual legacy cases including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
The Legacy and Reconciliation Act was passed at Westminster last year, with the government arguing that it is an attempt to draw a line under the events of the past.The Legacy and Reconciliation Act was passed at Westminster last year, with the government arguing that it is an attempt to draw a line under the events of the past.
From Wednesday inquests into Troubles-related killings which have not concluded by then will close.
An Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) has also been set up.An Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) has also been set up.
The aim of this new organisation is to help families find out more about the circumstances of how their loved ones were killed or seriously injured.The aim of this new organisation is to help families find out more about the circumstances of how their loved ones were killed or seriously injured.
The Irish government is taking a case against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Lord Caine, who has worked on amendments to the Legacy Act, said on Monday that he "would reject completely any suggestion that this is about a cover-up, because the new body [ICRIR] will have access to far more state records than has ever been available to any such body in the past".
Troubles legacy bill enters law "We want to deliver as many answers as possible," he said.
Government appeals High Court ruling on Troubles Act "There will be some things that will emerge that will be difficult for the UK government and the British State. Similarly there will be things which emerge which are difficult for paramilitaries and former paramilitaries."
The part of the act which offered conditional immunity from prosecution for Troubles offences was struck out by the High Court in Belfast in February.The part of the act which offered conditional immunity from prosecution for Troubles offences was struck out by the High Court in Belfast in February.
However, the ruling is being appealed by the government.However, the ruling is being appealed by the government.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris had previously said he was committed to implementing the legislation.Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris had previously said he was committed to implementing the legislation.
What is the Northern Ireland Troubles Act? 'Upset relations'
The act, which became law in September, will end future civil litigation and inquests into deaths which occurred during more than 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles. However, the issue of immigration overshadowed Monday's BIIC.
The government has repeatedly stated the new act is, in its view, human rights compliant. The Irish government has said it has seen an influx of asylum seekers coming from Northern Ireland because they are fearful of being sent to Rwanda.
Prosecutions that are currently ongoing will continue to conclusion. It is preparing legislation to allow arrivals to be sent back to the UK.
But it introduced a ban on civil cases not lodged before May 2022 and inquests which have not reached the stage of findings by 1 May 2024 will cease. Downing Street has said that the UK government will not take back asylum seekers who have crossed into Ireland until EU-wide asylum rules are changed.
Opponents believe it may also limit Troubles investigations, which in future would be undertaken by the ICRIR and not the PSNI. Mr Heaton-Harris said the UK must deal with the European Union as a "whole entity".
A meeting between Irish justice minister Helen McEntee and UK home secretary James Cleverly has been postponed After Monday's meeting he said the government's Rwanda law was "clearly working and having some impact already" as a deterrent, and that the UK did not want to "upset" relationships with Ireland.
The Irish Justice minister Helen McEntee was due to attend the British-Irish meeting, but pulled out, meaning Tánaiste Micheál Martin will represent the Irish government. But the Irish government has said 80% of recent arrivals to the Republic came from the UK across the Irish border, and that the UK's Rwanda policy is impacting Ireland.
On Sunday night the Irish Department of Justice told BBC News NI that a meeting scheduled for Monday between the minister and Home Secretary James Cleverly had been postponed. Mr Heaton-Harris said: "We're bound to have politics and various debates, but I'd like to think our relationship is strong enough to deal with all those issues."
Ms McEntee had said she planned to raise migration with Mr Cleverly and the Irish government's plan for new legislation that would enable asylum seekers to be sent back to the UK.
A spokesperson for Ms McEntee said: "The Minister will meet with senior officials in Dublin today and regrets she won't be in attendance at the BIIGC, which will be attended by the Tánaiste.
"The Minister looks forward to her meeting with the Home Secretary being rescheduled soon."
The Irish government has said 80% of recent arrivals to the Republic came from the UK across the Irish border, and that the UK's Rwanda policy is impacting Ireland.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
The TroublesThe Troubles