14 hours agoShareSaveEnda McClafferty and Brendan Hughes,BBC News NIShareSaveBBCNothing in the government’s new Troubles legacy legislation is a direct threat to national security, the Northern Ireland secretary has said.Hilary Benn was responding to questions from MPs as they debated the bill for more than three hours during its second reading in the House of Commons.The bill, which comfortably passed its latest stage by 320 votes to 105, includes plans for a commission to investigate Troubles-related killings and a separate information recovery body.The measures were agreed in a joint framework with the Irish government.Last week, nine senior former military officers raised concerns over the bill and warned that “lawfare” had become a “direct threat to national security”.Asked about the open letter in The Times newspaper during the debate on Tuesday, Benn told MPs: “I don’t agree with that assessment.”‘No threat’ to national securityThe secretary of state said there was “nothing in this bill that can be described as a direct threat to national security”.He also said the generals who signed the letter “do not call for immunity” – a controversial part of the previous Conservative government’s legislation.Benn was responding after the letter was raised by Conservative MP Mark Francois.He questioned if the proposed legislation “is as good as the secretary of state would have the House believe” given the remarks in the correspondence.Labour’s bill seeks to replace the contentious Legacy Act, which introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to Troubles-era incidents.The new plan involves a Legacy Commission to investigate Troubles-related killings, a separate information recovery body, and a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána (Irish police).The measures were agreed in a joint framework with the Irish government.A separate package of protections for veterans is also being proposed by the UK government.But some MPs, including Northern Ireland MPs, have said the measures do not go far enough and want to amend the bill to include stronger protections in law.PA MediaSpeaking in the Commons, Benn said that “time is running out” to resolve the “unfinished business” of the Troubles.He rejected suggestions the Irish government had been given “any control or veto” over the work of the Legacy Commission.The Northern Ireland secretary also said a “Victims and Survivors Advisory Group” to be set up for the commission will not include former paramilitaries.Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister asked Benn to point out where in the bill this was stated.The secretary of state responded: “Anyone who was previously involved in paramilitary activity will not be appointed to the victims and survivors group.”I am giving the House that assurance as the secretary of state.”Conservative MP Alex Burghart, the shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, said Labour’s bill “reopens the door to vexatious litigation against veterans”.”The legislation before us today will perpetuate disappointment for victims and despair for veterans,” he added.What have NI MPs said about the plan?Speaking during the debate, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson questioned the detail of the bill.”Those innocent victims of Northern Ireland have heard this government promise to ‘repeal and replace’, and yet that’s not what they’re seeing,” he said.The MP argued there was “no specific protection for veterans” in the bill, saying the assurance was a “mirage”.He added: “Shame runs throughout the legacy of our past and governments’ approach to it.”Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna said that “while legacy remains unresolved, it is like a fog around us”.”This bill isn’t perfect, legislation rarely is, but we can’t miss the opportunity to deal with legacy,” she added.”It is not abo …
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[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nn14 hours agoShareSaveEnda McClafferty and Brendan Hughes,BBC News NIShareSaveBBCNothing in the government’s new Troubles legacy legislation is a direct threat to national security, the Northern Ireland secretary has said.Hilary Benn was responding to questions from MPs as they debated the bill for more than three hours during its second reading in the House of Commons.The bill, which comfortably passed its latest stage by 320 votes to 105, includes plans for a commission to investigate Troubles-related killings and a separate information recovery body.The measures were agreed in a joint framework with the Irish government.Last week, nine senior former military officers raised concerns over the bill and warned that “lawfare” had become a “direct threat to national security”.Asked about the open letter in The Times newspaper during the debate on Tuesday, Benn told MPs: “I don’t agree with that assessment.”‘No threat’ to national securityThe secretary of state said there was “nothing in this bill that can be described as a direct threat to national security”.He also said the generals who signed the letter “do not call for immunity” – a controversial part of the previous Conservative government’s legislation.Benn was responding after the letter was raised by Conservative MP Mark Francois.He questioned if the proposed legislation “is as good as the secretary of state would have the House believe” given the remarks in the correspondence.Labour’s bill seeks to replace the contentious Legacy Act, which introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to Troubles-era incidents.The new plan involves a Legacy Commission to investigate Troubles-related killings, a separate information recovery body, and a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána (Irish police).The measures were agreed in a joint framework with the Irish government.A separate package of protections for veterans is also being proposed by the UK government.But some MPs, including Northern Ireland MPs, have said the measures do not go far enough and want to amend the bill to include stronger protections in law.PA MediaSpeaking in the Commons, Benn said that “time is running out” to resolve the “unfinished business” of the Troubles.He rejected suggestions the Irish government had been given “any control or veto” over the work of the Legacy Commission.The Northern Ireland secretary also said a “Victims and Survivors Advisory Group” to be set up for the commission will not include former paramilitaries.Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister asked Benn to point out where in the bill this was stated.The secretary of state responded: “Anyone who was previously involved in paramilitary activity will not be appointed to the victims and survivors group.”I am giving the House that assurance as the secretary of state.”Conservative MP Alex Burghart, the shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, said Labour’s bill “reopens the door to vexatious litigation against veterans”.”The legislation before us today will perpetuate disappointment for victims and despair for veterans,” he added.What have NI MPs said about the plan?Speaking during the debate, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson questioned the detail of the bill.”Those innocent victims of Northern Ireland have heard this government promise to ‘repeal and replace’, and yet that’s not what they’re seeing,” he said.The MP argued there was “no specific protection for veterans” in the bill, saying the assurance was a “mirage”.He added: “Shame runs throughout the legacy of our past and governments’ approach to it.”Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna said that “while legacy remains unresolved, it is like a fog around us”.”This bill isn’t perfect, legislation rarely is, but we can’t miss the opportunity to deal with legacy,” she added.”It is not abo …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]
