Taoiseach Micheal Martin has hailed the “very strong confidence and mutual trust” between the UK and Irish governments during a visit to Belfast, despite facing questions over the UK’s handling of Northern Ireland’s troubled past.
Speaking at Grand Central Station in Belfast on Thursday evening, Mr Martin was pressed on legacy issues after hearing starkly opposing views from Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) during meetings at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, earlier in the day.
Sinn Fein and DUP Clash on Legacy
Sinn Fein urged the Taoiseach to continue the interstate case Ireland initiated against the UK in 2023 over the previous government’s Legacy Act, which they claim breaches the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The DUP, however, described the case as “disgraceful” and called for it to be halted.
Labour is expected to introduce replacement legislation, but concerns remain among victims’ families seeking truth and justice.
Mr Martin stated there is “no basis” to suggest the UK Government will renege on its commitments. “We’ve worked in a very collaborative, constructive way with the British Government in respect of the joint framework on legacy, and a lot of progress has been made,” he said. “In fairness, they have fulfilled their commitments to date, and we also are fulfilling our commitments.”
When asked if dropping the interstate case would build confidence, Mr Martin said the relationship between the governments has been positive and added: “I think they understand the context of how this is evolving and how this will work. And so we’re quite confident there’s no need, really, between the two governments to have to engage in confidence-building measures.”
Meetings with Stormont Parties
The Taoiseach’s meetings with the main Stormont parties on Thursday afternoon also covered reform of the powersharing institutions.
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald told reporters at Stormont that she urged Mr Martin to ensure victims’ concerns are addressed in the joint legacy framework. “We do not go down the road of the British Government pandering to their veterans and compromising the effectiveness and the legality of the legacy framework,” she said. “We have been given assurances that there will be absolute vigilance on the part of the Irish Government in that regard, and that the interstate case still remains live.”
DUP leader Gavin Robinson expressed “continual disappointment” with the Irish Government’s approach, particularly the interstate case and its “unwillingness to engage” with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry or set up a parallel inquiry. “It has always been a disgrace – an Irish Government that talks a lot about legacy but has delivered nothing for victims,” he said.
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long stressed that both governments have a responsibility to drive Stormont reform and address legacy issues. “The issue has been finding the momentum and the timing between the two governments and the Assembly to be able to move this forward, and I think the time is now right,” she said.
SDLP leader Claire Hanna emphasised the urgency of delivering Stormont reform before the next Assembly election in a year’s time. “The fact is that people here deserve better than failing government, and government that is never far from collapse,” she said.
Mr Martin also spoke by phone with Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows, who said he “constructively challenged” the Taoiseach on legacy, stating “the way Dublin has handled legacy to date is simply not good enough.”
Other Engagements
During his visit, Mr Martin met with business leaders and Women’s Aid. He later attended Grand Central Station to mark the signing of a 700 million euro (£604 million) contract for a new fleet of cross-border trains, before delivering the Lord David Trimble Lecture 2026 at Queen’s University Belfast.
Ahead of his visit, the Taoiseach paid tribute to Lord Trimble’s “critical role in the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement.” He added: “The principles and purpose of the agreement remain central to what my Government does and how we foster relationships across these islands.”
