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Dublin disappointed by lack of legacy outcome

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has voiced disappointment at the lack of agreement on legacy issues. Picture b Niall Carson, PA Wire 
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has voiced disappointment at the lack of agreement on legacy issues. Picture b Niall Carson, PA Wire  Taoiseach Enda Kenny has voiced disappointment at the lack of agreement on legacy issues. Picture b Niall Carson, PA Wire 

THE Dublin government was left deeply disappointed by the failure to agree measures for dealing with the past in the latest Stormont deal.

Just over a week after the agreement was unveiled, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan both voiced regret at the lack of consensus on legacy issues.

Their comments came in a Dáil debate on Wednesday on the Fresh Start agreement, which was struck on Tuesday of last week following 10 weeks of negotiations.

The taoiseach said he shared the deep disappointment of the victims, survivors and their families at the absence of a legacy component in the deal but he insisted the legacy cause was not lost.

"I want assure them that the two governments will persist in our efforts to secure an agreed basis for the establishment of the institutions dealing with the past envisaged in the Stormont House Agreement," he said.

Despite legacy issues being central to the Haass negotiations of 2013, last year's Stormont House talks and the process that concluded with the latest deal, measures for dealing with the past did not figure in the final agreement. Republicans have blamed the impasse on the British government's insistence on a 'national security' clause in the legacy bill.

Mr Flanagan also voiced his disappointment on behalf of victims and survivors.

"I am particularly disappointed given that great progress which was made during the talks on many of the details for the establishment of the new institutions," he said.

The minister said agreement had been close on a range of issues.

Meanwhile, the taoiseach reaffirmed the commitment made by Dublin to northern infrastructure projects, including the A5 and the proposed bridge at Narrow Water linking Co Down with Co Louth.

"The Irish government will continue to invest in the all island economy and the people of the border region and the north west as set out in our recent capital plan," he said.

"Our commitments under this agreement will see completion of the first part of the A5 motorway, which will help unlock the full potential of the north west of the island."

He said support of €2.5m would be provided for the North West Gateway Initiative and that Dublin would continue to explore the development of further cross-border "greenways and blueway leisure routes", including the Ulster Canal.

"(We) remain committed to the concept of the Narrow Water bridge which has the potential to provide jobs and a significant boost to tourism in the surrounding area," he said.

Mr Kenny also called for a "proper and full debate" on issues that could have a critical impact on the north, such as Britain’s future within the European Union.

"The EU has been a very positive contributor to the peace process and I firmly believe that our common membership of the EU project is in all our interests," he said.