The Government will push for a new focus on measures to assist victims of the Troubles in the new year after the Fresh Start deal failed to address their concerns.

Labour Minister of State Seán Sherlock, who was involved in the 10 weeks of negotiations leading to the latest Stormont agreement, appealed to all parties involved to re-engage to resolve difficulties over so-called “legacy” issues and establish the truth for survivors.

“We would wholeheartedly acknowledge that the infrastructure that was to be set up to deal with the legacy of the past was not delivered under the Fresh Start. There’s no intention to let that slide from the political agenda,” he said.

“I do believe that in the new year, following a period of reflection, we do need to return to this issue. We can’t let another 10 years go by, with the possibility of more victims passing away without justice.

“We have an obligation to continue to advance the legacy issues. We are duty-bound to do that and we will continue to do so.”

Legacy issues

Organisations representing survivors of violence were furious when the 67-page Fresh Start document barely referred to their concerns.

But Mr Sherlock said a lot of energy during the talks had been devoted to legacy issues.

“Within the negotiations, the Irish Government from its perspective had a view that we could have concluded a deal, with legacy institutions being set up a part of that,” he said.

“But the issue of national security and disclosure is always hanging over talks like a sword of Damocles. We felt that we could have at least created the beginnings of an infrastructure.”