New legislation to implement a new UK-Irish deal addressing Troubles legacy issues is set to be introduced at Westminster later on Tuesday.
The deal seeks to heal a rift between London and Dublin created by the current Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.
It was agreed last month, but received a mixed reaction from political parties, victims’ groups and veterans.
It includes a new legacy commission, a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána (Irish police) being established, as well as a package of protections for veterans.
The prime minister has said the plans include protections for British Army veterans, but not paramilitaries.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the previous UK government’s “flawed, undeliverable, and widely opposed Legacy Act” had caused “great pain and anguish to many people”.
The Legacy Act had included a conditional amnesty and was strongly opposed by many victims’ groups and all political parties in Northern Ireland.
Labour pledged to repeal the act and replace it after winning the last election, including agreeing a way forward with Dublin.
The government began the process of repealing the act last December.
With the new framework agreed, the Secretary of State will introduce a bill in the Commons on Tuesday.
