Tánaiste Simon Harris has said no additional protections will be given to veterans as part of a new agreement on dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland's Troubles.
"Any protections that are afforded to veterans will be the exact same ones that must be afforded to anybody else who cooperates with the Commission," he said.
The ten-page document has been a year in the making and marks a significant improvement in the relationship between the Irish and British governments.
The framework includes commitments to fundamentally reform mechanisms in the controversial 2023 Legacy Act passed by Britain's previous Conservative government.
This raises expectations that the Irish Government could drop its case against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights.
The agreement includes commitments by both governments to legislate for changes which have been agreed.
Speaking on RTÉ News Six One, Mr Harris said how the British government "decides to speak to people in Britain is a matter for them".
Irish and British governments unveil new NI legacy agreement
"I don't wish to involve myself in British politics," he said.
He said mechanisms have to be put in place "so everybody who is required by the Commission to cooperate is able to do so".
Mr Harris said some people may be elderly and there may be a case for "people being able to give evidence remotely".
"I have no issue with people being able to give evidence remotely if that’s viewed appropriately," he said.
However, the Tánaiste said this must be afforded to "anybody engaging with the Commission - not just to any one group".
Fine Gael’s leader called today’s deal a "historic and significant moment".
He said scars "run really deep" and the Good Friday Agreement had to park the issue of legacy.
"Ever since then, there have been many efforts to move this forward," he said.
He said the two governments came together and realised they had to "step up to the plate" and do better by victims and survivors.
"For the first time, we have on an all-Island basis an ability to tackle the issue of legacy in a sensitive, human rights compliant comprehensive way," he said.
Mr Harris said information "will be shared in a manner that is appropriate" as part of UK investigations.
"All of that detail will be worked out as part of the legislative process," he said.
The Tánaiste said having a "proper legislative backdrop that will enable cooperation on a cross-border basis" will ensure victims get answers "in an expeditious manner".
"So much of this happened across the island of Ireland," he said.
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'Imperfect opportunity' to make a difference, says Harris
Earlier, Mr Harris told the news conference that the new framework was an "imperfect opportunity" to make a real difference to families bereaved by the Troubles.
He said that families have waited too long for truth and accountability and that he knows it will take time to win their confidence.
Mr Harris also said that legislation will be required to give effect to what has been agreed but he is confident that with faithful implementation, the agreement "can deliver for families".
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the deal offers an opportunity to deal with the "unfinished business" of the region's peace agreement.
"Dealing with the legacy of the Troubles is hard, and that is why it has been for so long the unfinished business of the Good Friday Agreement," said Mr Benn.
He added: "We have now both an opportunity and a responsibility to try and deal with this and not put off difficult decisions for yet another generation."
Mr Benn reflected on the impact of hearing stories of loss from victims of the Troubles as he expressed hope that a route to closure was "within our grasp".
ICRIR to be renamed the Legacy Commission
Among developments included in the deal is the renaming of a controversial investigative body.
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery - established under the UK's controversial Legacy Act - will be retitled the Legacy Commission.
It will be reformed to include a new independent oversight board and robust conflict of interest rules for staff.
Its job will be to investigate cases and take criminal prosecutions where the evidence supports them.
There will be a separate fact-finding body, the Independent Commission for Information Recovery (ICIR) which can provide reports to families.
There will be an arrangement where information provided to the ICIR by interlocuters on behalf of paramilitary groups cannot be used in criminal cases - closely mirroring a mechanism used by the so-called Disappeared Commission.
The Government will legislate to ensure the fullest possible cooperation by the authorities in the Republic with the reformed legacy institutions.
It will also commit to undertake investigations in the Republic and it is expected to set aside €25m to support families in legacy processes.
A new legacy unit will also be established in An Garda Síochána as a single point of contact in such cases.
Agreement is about families getting closure - Taoiseach
The Taoiseach said the agreement represents a significant opportunity to work with the British government to work with families and victims of the Troubles in a timely way.
He said: "Fundamentally, the legacy really is about many, many families getting closure, in respect of the murder of their loved ones.
"We had a very good engagement with Prime Minister [Keir] Starmer's government.
"We’ve met with victims’ groups to try change what had been there, prior to this UK government coming into place.
"You’re looking at a stronger commitment from the Irish Government in terms of resourcing and setting up units within An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice to cooperate fully with all inquiries."
"It has been a very frustrating journey...we really haven’t had continuous settled legacy framework and we’ve managed to have a good, proactive engagement with this UK government.
"I believe it’s very, very important, notwithstanding that we may not all get what we all want, no agreement is perfect, but in our view it represents a very significant opportunity to have agreement with the British government and to work with victims and families in a timely way," said Mr Martin.
Talks have been going on for a year between the two governments to reach the agreement.
A key objective has been to develop proposals which are both compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights and have the support of families.
Safeguards for veterans could hinder Troubles legacy deal
In 2024, the Government took an interstate case against the UK to the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds that the current legislation was in breach of the convention.
It is expected that once the new framework is translated into law, that decision can be reviewed.
The UK's Labour government inherited the existing Legacy Act from their Tory predecessors.
Mr Starmer promised to repeal and replace it, with the Northern Secretary promising fundamental reform.
There have been high level discussions on the issue involving both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste.
The new arrangements closely resemble the legacy elements of the 2014 Stormont House Agreement between the two governments and most of Northern Ireland's parties.
That agreement was never implemented.
Meanwhile, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has said that there must be more funding for policing in order for a new Legacy Commission to work.
Following the publication of the framework, Mr Boutcher said: "Any plans must include funding for getting information quickly from those bodies that hold it.
"Currently, legacy investigations cost our organisation £24 million a year.
"This cost has included the additional demand of servicing requests from the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, for which we receive no additional funding despite highlighting this additional pressure on frequent occasions."
He added: "We are not funded for all aspects of legacy costs, and each day the PSNI buckles a little more as we desperately try to manage the unique challenges of policing a post-conflict society with wholly inadequate funding.
"The supply of information to a reformed Legacy Commission will require resources in the PSNI, and our funding is critical for the success of any new commission.
"The cost of dealing with legacy comes out of our core budget, which should be spent on policing Northern Ireland today. It is not right that we have to use that budget for legacy.
"That money should be providing police officers in our neighbourhood and response teams, it should be paying for detectives to investigate and solve crimes.
"Therefore for this revised commission to work, the planning must include additional funding for policing."
More: 'Questions to answer' over Troubles legacy deal - victims
