A group of cross-community Troubles victims is pressing the Taoiseach to raise the issue of the UK government's amnesty proposals when he meets US President Joe Biden.
Micheál Martin is expected to meet Biden as the traditional St. Patrick's Day visit resumes this year. It will be the first such visit since 2019, with the past two years' trips cancelled due to the pandemic.
On Thursday Martin met with members of the Truth and Justice Movement. The group told the Taoiseach of their opposition to the UK government's plan to introduce an amnesty on Troubles related prosecutions.
A spokesperson said Martin told the group that the Irish government is "consistently engaged with the US on legacy issues and will continue to do so" and that "Ireland has voiced strong opposition against unilateral action on a statute of limitations which has been opposed by parties across Northern Ireland."
Members of the group said the Taoiseach told them he "totally rejects" the UK government's proposal.
"He said he totally rejects the proposals, that he supports us in it," said campaigner Raymond McCord. "We spoke about American involvement. I raised it. We would like to see the Americans involved, I want it to be brought to the attention of Joe Biden. The full support is there for us, he agrees with everything that we’re saying."
The UK government's proposal would introduce a statute of limitations on prosecutions of those involved in Troubles incidents pre-dating April 1998.
All political parties on both sides of the border are opposed to the plan.
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