DUP leader Gavin Robinson has sharply criticized Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee for stating that any significant changes to Northern Ireland Troubles legislation require full agreement from both the UK and Irish governments. Robinson accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of potentially "spinelessly surrendering" to Ireland over planned protections for military veterans.
The clash erupted after Starmer indicated the government would add new safeguards for veterans to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. McEntee responded during a visit to Parliament Buildings in Belfast that the agreed framework «is a very fine balance» achieved through «huge amount of work.» She emphasized: «We are very clear as a government that in transposing that agreement and putting it into legislation, there cannot be any significant changes that shift that balance.»
Robinson framed McEntee's stance as a direct challenge to British sovereignty. In a communication to DUP party members, he questioned whether Starmer would «side with sovereignty and protect our armed forces or spinelessly surrender to the Republic who have delivered nothing for victims.»
Veterans' Protections
The DUP leader argued the legislation «must properly protect our veterans» who were «putting their lives on the line to protect others and uphold the rule of law.» He added: «They deserve gratitude and respect, not the prospect of legal jeopardy decades later.»
Robinson emphasized the need for clear distinctions: «It is vital that any legal framework clearly distinguishes between those who upheld the law and those who sought to undermine it through terrorism and violence. To blur that line is morally wrong and unjust.»
Background
The joint framework on legacy, announced by London and Dublin last September, aims to reform structures established by the previous Conservative government's Legacy Act. The key reform targets removal of a controversial provision offering conditional immunity to perpetrators of Troubles crimes. The Labour Government has announced new protections for Northern Ireland veterans, including allowing remote evidence for witnesses in legacy processes.
Budget Criticism
Separately, Robinson criticized Stormont Finance Minister John O'Dowd's draft budget, stating it «cannot be treated as settled.» He said: «While we recognise the real financial pressures facing Northern Ireland, the priorities John O'Dowd has chosen raise serious concerns.» Robinson warned that «significant changes will be required before this budget could ever secure DUP support,» particularly for education and major infrastructure projects.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
