Opening Statement to the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
On 24 February 2022, our Deputy Director, Daniel Holder, and Immigration Solicitor, Úna Boyd, presented to the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. We highlighted the continuing pattern of political obstruction in Northern Ireland in terms of how this is delaying implementation of outstanding rights commitments from the peace settlement and, more broadly, hindering progress on rights and equality.
Specific issues raised include the ‘hard border’ on the island of Ireland for certain BME and migrant groups, the development of a Bill of Rights as an essential safeguard to the functioning of power sharing in NI, the (mis)use of the ‘St Andrews Veto’ by Ministers at the NI Executive, and opposition to the latest UK legacy proposals.
You can watch the session here or download our opening statement.