As the Taoiseach is aware, the British Government has now come up with a new variation on its already despicable proposals for an amnesty for people who committed murder during the Troubles. The British Government is now proposing that those who assist a new independent recovery body and co-operate will not face prosecution. The British Government is now introducing a charter for the perpetrators of murder and other heinous crimes. We will have a coalition of murderers from the state forces and murderers from the paramilitary organisations. Yesterday at the event to mark the 48th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings where 33 innocent people were killed and hundreds injured, the Taoiseach said that the Stormont House Agreement needed to be implemented, and that we need to ensure that the rights and concerns of victims are centre stage in all processes. A very firm rebuke must go to the British Government regarding this variation on its already discredited amnesty proposal.

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue with me. We are considering the United Kingdom Government's published proposals in detail. I have no doubt that we will have a very comprehensive range of issues to raise and questions to ask. There is also a broader question of process. It has been our consistent position - I have communicated this to the British Prime Minister - that the basis for progress on legacy issues is the Stormont House Agreement that was reached between the two Governments and political parties back in 2014. If a significant unilateral departure from that agreement is now being proposed, this would need to be discussed by both Governments and with all the parties.

There must be serious and credible engagement with victims and families. It is essential that both Governments and the parties in Northern Ireland have real and considered discussions on any way forward on this deeply sensitive issue. Crucially, victims and families must be brought into the consideration of any way forward. I have met many of those groups in recent months. They are not happy with the manner in which the British Government approached this and their views must be uppermost.