Government to publish changes to Troubles legacy bill next month, Sinn Féin says

The government has indicated that it will publish its planned changes to the Troubles legacy bill in the middle of next month, Sinn Féin has said.

The party's North Belfast MP John Finucane was speaking on Thursday after meeting the Secretary of State, Sir Chris Bryant, to discuss the proposals.

Sir Chris is holding a range of meetings with the largest Stormont parties throughout the day.

The government has faced criticism for delays in passing the Troubles legacy bill, which was introduced last year, following agreement on a joint framework with the Irish government.

Labour's bill seeks to replace the contentious Legacy Act, which introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to Troubles-era incidents.

Finucane said it was important to publish the amendments quickly but that it was important to "get it right".

"We got a flavour of the package of the amendments the government will table - we were told today there will be a lot of detail but we weren't given that this morning."

He said it would be "prudent" to give the party's full judgment only after the detail is made public.

Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson described the meeting with the secretary of state as "constructive".

"We've been drinking in the last chance saloon when it comes to dealing with the legacy of our past for some time now. Families have waited for too long and have been let down by successive governments," Tennyson said.

"We stressed upon the secretary of state the need now to move at pace, to get legacy legislative over the line and to move in lockstep with the Irish government so that we can finally get those families the answers that they deserve."

The bill seeks to replace the contentious 2023 Legacy Act, which introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to Troubles-era incidents.

The new plan involves a Legacy Commission to investigate Troubles-related killings, a separate information recovery body, and a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána (Irish police).

A package of protections for military veterans has also been proposed by the government.