Press Releases

Congressman Lawler released the following statement on Ireland's decision yesterday to take the United Kingdom to the European Court of Human Rights over its controversial Legacy and Reconciliation Act. Representative Lawler led a bipartisan letter last week to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Micheál Martin admonishing the recent passage of the Legacy and Reconciliation Act and urging precisely the course of action taken yesterday.

“A great injustice was perpetrated with the recent passage of the Legacy and Reconciliation Act and Ireland is right to take this matter to court,” said Congressman Lawler. “This Act undermines the Good Friday Agreement and neglects the frameworks agreed by Ireland and the UK in the Stormont House Agreement.”

“Further, by providing amnesty for heinous crimes and shutting down historical criminal investigations, this Act is a clear violation of human rights for victims of the Troubles,” continued Congressman Lawler. “That is exactly why I urged the Irish government to strongly consider legal action against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights."

“I sincerely appreciate the work of the Irish Government for vocally opposing this Act while it moved through Westminster, and I stand with them as they take this next step,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “While this time is trying for many, I will never stop standing up for the Irish people against this grave injustice.

New York's 17th Congressional District is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.