Leo Varadkar arrives in Belfast to meet UK representatives and discuss Legacy Bill

The Legacy Bill will see all civil and criminal Troubles cases — including inquests — close down from next May

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is in Northern Ireland for a funding announcement for PEACEPLUS, a new EU programme to build reconciliation and greater prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has arrived in Belfast where he will hold bilateral meetings with UK representatives and discuss the UK's controversial Legacy Bill.

Mr Varadkar is in Northern Ireland for a funding announcement for PEACEPLUS, a new EU programme to build reconciliation and greater prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

He is meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, and will be joined by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, European Commission Vice President Maros Šefčovič, a representative of the UK Government, and the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Dr Jayne Brady.

The meeting comes as controversy continues over the passage of the UK legacy bill.

The bill will see all civil and criminal Troubles cases — including inquests — close down from next May. The bill has been severely opposed by all victims' groups and the political parties.

Mr Varadkar has said he will make a decision in the coming weeks on whether to launch a legal challenge against the UK government's Northern Ireland Legacy Bill.

He said the Government is also assessing legal advice on the strength of taking a case over the bill.

Mr Varadkar will hold a bilateral meeting with the UK Government representatives to discuss the legacy bill.

He is to also hold a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Šefčovič to discuss the EU’s commitment to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, as well as the state of play on the restoration of Stormont.

Mr Varadkar is to announce €1.14bn in funding through PEACEPLUS — a total of €850m in funding for community and cross-border funding will come from the British Government, with €235m from the EU and €58.6m from Dublin.