The Tánaiste is aware of reports overnight that the British Government intends to grant an amnesty for its forces involved in illegal actions, including murder, during the conflict in the North. I welcome the comments of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, indicating his opposition to this unilateral move. All families bereaved during the conflict deserve the truth and we support them in this. This is why we have supported the provisions contained in the Stormont House Agreement and in New Decade, New Approach. These agreements were the foundation upon which the political institutions were re-established, and we cannot see them undermined in this fashion. It is important the Irish Government and all of us in this Chamber send out a clear message to Boris Johnson that this plan is unacceptable and the British Government needs to return to the commitments made at Stormont House and in New Decade, New Approach. As co-guarantor of these agreements, I trust the Government will now engage with the British Government and the other parties to ensure this happens.

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I have to say the Government and I, personally, were deeply alarmed by reports we read about the possibility the British Government may consider providing an amnesty or putting in place a statute of limitations on offences that occurred during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. This would fly in the face of the Stormont House Agreement and of the New Decade, New Approach Agreement. Anything like this would have to have the agreement of the parties in Northern Ireland. It is something we would not support as a Government because we stand with the victims and the families who have been bereaved and damaged as a consequence of these actions. They have a right to know what happened and they have a right to justice. Whether the murderers were British soldiers or republicans or loyalists, they should be brought to justice.