Minister Jim O’Callaghan and Secretary of State Chris Bryant discuss progress by both Governments to implement Joint Framework on Legacy

The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan today met with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Bryant in Dublin.

The meeting provided a first opportunity for the Ministers to discuss the shared priorities of addressing the legacy of the Troubles, effective security cooperation and supporting the work of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry since Secretary of State Bryant’s appointment last month.

Speaking after the meeting today, Minister O’Callaghan said:

“Today’s meeting was a very positive first opportunity to engage with Secretary

of State Bryant since his recent appointment.

“The Secretary of State updated me on his plans in relation to legacy matters and I was fully assured by him of the UK Government’s continued commitment to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and the faithful implementation of the Joint Framework on Legacy agreed by the two governments last year.

“I updated the Secretary of State on the extensive progress made already by the Government in implementing the Joint Framework, namely the establishment of the Garda Troubles Legacy Liaison Unit in January and the publication of my legislative proposals in this regard in June. I further underlined the need for both governments to continue to make progress towards implementation and the Secretary of State assured me that it is his intention to bring it to committee stage in the House of Commons in October, as victims and families have waited too long already for truth and accountability.

“I reiterated to the Secretary of State my intention to be in a position to publish the Legacy of the Troubles Bill once the UK legislation is enacted and my aim to support its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas as a priority having regard to the timeline for the Legacy Commission to become operational.

“We both noted that reciprocal cooperation is at the heart of the Joint Framework and our respective commitment to ensuring that the relevant authorities in both jurisdictions are empowered to assist the legacy processes established under the Framework.

“On security cooperation, the Secretary of State and I acknowledged the excellent cross-border policing and security cooperation that takes place on a daily basis and its critical importance to keeping people safe in both jurisdictions, as underlined by successful policing and security operations recently.

“Finally, I updated the Secretary of State on the Government’s cooperation with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry in advance of its first evidential hearings in September, with over 50,000 pages of material now disclosed to the Inquiry and more being disclosed on a rolling basis, and the enactment in June of the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Act 2026 to facilitate the taking of witness testimony for the purposes of the Inquiry.”

The Ministers agreed to remain in close contact, noting the upcoming the meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in the Autumn.