Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has welcomed confirmation by the Government that the Attorney General was not speaking on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government when he made his comments regarding an effective amnesty and that the Government has no plans to introduce an amnesty for Troubles related offences committed before the Belfast Agreement.
Lord Empey said:
"Following last week’s comments by the Attorney General John Larkin, in which he outlined proposals on dealing with the past which appeared to many people to amount to a form of amnesty, I tabled two questions in the Lords.
“It was my intention to provide the Government with the opportunity to deliver a considered response to John Larkin, in order to ensure clarity and certainty.
“I welcome the clear and unambiguous answers which I have received from the Government in which Baroness Randerson makes it clear that:
“The Attorney General was not speaking on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government when he made his comments. The Government has no plans to introduce an amnesty for Troubles related offences committed before the Belfast Agreement.”