Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan and Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has branded the unilateral decision by the British Government to abandon the Stormont House Agreement as "utterly deplorable", in a statement to Dáil Eireann.
He was reacting after the British Government's Legacy Bill - which will limit investigations into atrocities in the North - was brought back before the House of Lords.
Deputy Smith said it was "utterly deplorable" that the British Government would make a unilateral decision to abandon the Stormont House Agreement which was a solemn promise made between the British and Irish Governments, and the political parties represented in Stormont.
Speaking to Northern Sound, the local TD pointed out that the agreement had the capacity to make progress in dealing with very important and very sensitive issues. He added it was a "retrograde step" for the British Government to propose legislation that is totally unacceptable to everyone involved in peace.
"This British legislation proposes that perpetrators of heinous crimes, be they murderers from paramilitary organisations or murderers from the British state forces, be able to give themselves an amnesty from the most heinous crimes, including murders, bombings and maimings of innocent people.
"Any legislation of that sort cannot be accepted. It is not victim-centred. We cannot successfully deal with legacy issues unless it is victim-centred. It has to be victim-focused. I welcome the recent statements by the Archbishops of Armagh, who made a very cogent and strong argument against the legislation," Deputy Smith added.
