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Sinn Féin has
rejected the idea there can British Minister Refuses To Rule IRISH
be a time limit on the Brexit
backstop. Out Statute Of Limitations For
It comes as political par- EXAMINER
ties are still struggling to find
an answer on how to protect Northern Ireland Veterans |
the EU single market while
also avoiding customs checks July
on the border. abinet Officer Minister 10th,
The backstop has been David Lidington has
the sticking point in negotia- Cdeclinedtoruleoutastatute 2019
tions between the UK and of limitations for veterans who
EU. servedinNorthernIreland.
But Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Mr Lidington said ministers
Broin has rejected the idea would have to think “very care-
that it can be made time lim- fully” about the amnesty issue,
ited in order to secure a deal. following the widespread rejec-
“Would you trust Boris tion of the idea in a UK
Johnson with a time-limited Government public consulta-
backstop?” asked Mr Ó tion on mechanisms to deal
Brion. “I don’t think any sen- with the legacy of the Troubles.
Asked by the PA if the out-
sible Irish person would. come would now rule out a
“Previous agreement on statute of limitations in the
the backstop provides for region, Mr Lidington said: “I
that. think it would be wrong for me
“What we want is the to speculate when we have just
absolute minimum level of seen today the publication of
disruption, whether it’s on the the actual responses.
border or at points of entry, “Clearly ministers are going thread running through the not rewritten and those who could not be about those who
and that means the single to have to think very carefully consultation. took innocent life are held “shout the loudest get their
market and the customs about this sensitive issue, but I The exercise reported accountable, rather than the way”.
union.” C think everybody is agreed that “mixed views” from respon- reputation of those who stood “We are not surprised that
we need a system for the future dents on the controversial mat- against terrorism being inaccu- there is a lot of agreement that
There has been a 56% that is better than the one we ter. rately tarnished.” the present system for dealing
increase in the amount of have had up to now, at giving That debate has long been Sinn Féin said the with the past isn’t working, but
cannabis seized by Revenue both a sense of closure to vic- the subject of contention, with Government must stop that does not mean we should
accept a replacement solution
strong feelings about whether a
“stalling” on implementing the
this year. tims and survivors and also is paramilitary who was injured mechanisms. that is so structurally flawed,”
seen by everybody as fair and
According to details just.” or killed while committing an Linda Dillon MLA said: he said.
released by Revenue under Mr Lidington, the de facto act of violence should be con- “What is required now is that “In order to change the
the Freedom of Information deputy prime minister, indicat- sidered a victim, and be able to the British Government urgent- structural flaws, there must be a
Act, €5m worth of cannabis ed the scale of the response to avail themselves of services or ly sets out a time frame to bring fundamental change to the
herb and resin was seized in the legacy consultation came as financial support. forward legislation for the lega- SHA legacy proposals, which
the first five months of 2019. a surprise to the UK The consultation summary cy structures. never enjoyed the support of
The figure is up from Government. said views expressed were “Some families have been the Ulster Unionist Party.”
€3.2m in the same period “More than 17,000 individu- “split”. waiting almost 50 years on Alliance party deputy leader
last year. als and organisations respond- Mrs Foster said: “It is truth and justice. There can be Stephen Farry said the publica-
Senator Aodhan Ó ed, I think more than any of us immoral that the bombmaker no more stalling or protracted tion of the consultation should
Ríordáin, a former junior jus- expected,” he said. is defined as a victim in the and unnecessary delays. be a springboard towards final
tice minister, says it shows “And I think it is right that same way as the person who “The opportunity to deal agreement on the Stormont
how big a problem Ireland the Government should take its lost limbs in the bomb. with the past is now. The time House mechanisms.
has with cannabis. time to think carefully about “A new United Kingdom to engage with the past is now. On the majority rejection of
“It is a welcome develop- that very large number of definition of a victim would “Any further delays or amnesty, Mr Farry added: “It is
ment,” said Mr Ó Ríordáin. responses and the different have a transformative impact stalling from the British rightly recognized such an
on how we deal with the past.
approach would undermine the
Government will only serve to
“It shows that Revenue are views expressed there, and then “Another key concern for undermine public confidence in contribution of all of those who
I expect it will be for the new
working hard but it also prime minister and new gov- the DUP is that justice must the consultation, undermine served and protected the com-
shows that the cannabis issue ernment to decide on the way always remain open to victims the policy intent of the munity in line with the rule of
we have in the country is forward.” of terrorism. Stormont House Agreement law.
quite big. DUP leader Arlene Foster “Justice must also be seen to and more worryingly, further “This stands in sharp con-
“We need to do more said the consultation responses be done. No-one who has done disappoint and alienate vic- trast to the impression given in
than just seize cannabis off demonstrated “wide and var- wrong should be able to stop tims.” Westminster, which is in dan-
people, but try and direct ied” opinions on how to deal looking over their shoulder. Ulster Unionist MLA Doug ger of badly skewing the debate
people who have addiction with the past. “Whilst the opinions have Beattie said the legacy arrange- and undermining the process.
issues to service led, health She highlighted that the now been garnered, the chal- ments must be “balanced, fair, “This summary of the con-
led, services.” C issues related to the definition lenge is finding a way forward equitable and proportionate”. sultation should be used to end
of a victim was a common which ensures that history is He warned the process those destructive moves.” C

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