The Irish and British Governments are “very close” to reaching a new framework for dealing with legacy issues from the Troubles, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
Speaking after a meeting with British prime minister Keir Starmer, Mr Martin said “very good progress” has been made in talks between the two governments.
“I think it’s a good, concrete manifestation of the reset of relationships that has happened and the prime minister has been very strong in terms of the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom.
“Both Governments are very close now to being in a place to set out a new framework for legacy. A lot of work has been done.”
However, Mr Martin declined to put a timeline on such a framework, but said it would be short.
Asked if Mr Starmer had expressed any concerns he would struggle to get legacy reforms through the House of Commons, Mr Martin said he had not.
The Taoiseach added the two leaders are “at one” on the issue of legacy.
On the ongoing war in Ukraine, Mr Martin said there were discussions with Mr Starmer that Ireland would be willing to play a role in peacekeeping and peace monitoring missions in the event of a ceasefire and peace deal.
He added there are other tasks, like demining, in which Ireland would play a role.
We have experience. We’ve been part of many peacekeeping missions around the world where we’ve been effective, Chad, Lebanon and so therefore I think it’s important that Ireland plays its role in terms of any potential peace or ceasefire.
“However, there is no sign that Russia is serious about cessation of the war. We can see that in terms of the increased drone attacks and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure within Ukraine, which is shocking.
“We will work with our European Union colleagues in terms of more sanctions.”
Keir Starmer previously met the Taoiseach in March, in Liverpool, in a new series of annual UK-Ireland summits, hailed as the "next chapter" in their relationship after having "turned a page on the turbulent years".
Mr Martin said they will put "concrete flesh on the bone" on a range of initiatives during the next summit to be held in Ireland in early spring.
