The British and Irish ministers are set to discuss the implementation of the government’s contentious legacy act during their next meeting. The British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC), established by the Good Friday Agreement, meets twice annually, and this will be their latest session. The BIIGC will also discuss the UK’s stance on migrants. Notable attendees include Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris.
The previous gathering of the BIIGC took place in November 2021, with an emphasis on efforts to restore power-sharing institutions at Stormont. The upcoming session sees ministers from both governments scheduled to meet in London. Mr Martin expressed pleasure at attending the first meeting following the reinstatement of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing institutions and anticipates “another productive conference.”
The BIIGC has previously seen tensions regarding the implementation of legacy law, with the Irish government repeatedly opposing the act. The Legacy and Reconciliation Act had been passed at Westminster in 2021, with its proponents citing an attempt to draw a line under past events. Inquests into Troubles-related killings which have not yet come to a conclusion will at present be closed.
A new body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), has been established. Its purpose is to aid families interested in learning more about the circumstances of their loved ones’ fatalities or injuries. The UK’s policy on this aspect has clashed with the Irish government, which is pursuing a case against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg
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