The Government's new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 17 Dec 2024 Parliament page
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is launching an inquiry into Government policy on the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. On 4 December 2024, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced the Government’s next steps to ‘repeal and replace’ the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. … Read more
15 Recommendations
12 Conclusions
1 Report
7 Oral sessions
4 Letters
7 Events
Activity timeline 20 events
12 Feb
2026
Report published
10 Dec
2025
Correspondence
1 Dec
2025
Report published
26 Nov
2025
Correspondence
5 Nov
2025
Oral evidence
5 Nov
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
17 Sep
2025
Correspondence
3 Sep
2025
Oral evidence
3 Sep
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
12 Jun
2025
Correspondence
21 May
2025
Oral evidence
21 May
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 7 sessions
5 Nov 2025
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Alyson Kilpatrick · Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission David Johnstone · Office of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner Joe McVey · Commission for Victims and Survivors Northern Ireland
3 Sep 2025
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Julie Harrison · Northern Ireland Office Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP · Northern Ireland Office Sharon Carter · Northern Ireland Office
21 May 2025
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Louise Warde Hunter · Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) Peter Sheridan CBE · Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) Sir Declan Morgan · Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) Steven Bramley CBE · Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR)
7 May 2025
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Axel Schmidt · Ulster Human Rights Watch Chris Albiston · Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers Association Dave Holmes · Northern Ireland Veterans Movement David Johnstone · Office of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner
23 Apr 2025
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Baroness Nuala O'Loan · House of Lords Claire McGuigan · Police Service of Northern Ireland Jon Boutcher · Police Service of Northern Ireland Sir Iain Livingstone · Operation Kenova
19 Mar 2025
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Alan Brecknell · Pat Finucane Centre Dr Sandra Peake · Wave Trauma Centre Kenny Donaldson · South-East Fermanagh Foundation
26 Feb 2025
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Alyson Kilpatrick · Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Daniel Holder · Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) Professor Anna Bryson · Queen's University Belfast
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report – The Government's new approach to addressing the leg… HC 586 1 Dec 2025 27 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
Clear
3 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report – The Government's new …
ICRIR unable to command confidence due to structural legislative issues, requiring significant reform.
Despite the Court of Appeal’s finding that the ICRIR had wide powers, unfettered access to all information, documents, and materials as it reasonably required, and was capable of human-rights compliant criminal investigations, ICRIR was unable to command confidence across the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the ICRIR's difficulties but is confident that the fundamental reforms outlined in the Troubles Bill, including new governance structures and independent oversight, will ensure human rights compliance and public confidence, confirming ongoing efforts to support the ICRIR during this transition.
Northern Ireland Office
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6 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Provisions for increasing case referrals to commission prompt further questions.
We welcome the provisions in the Bill—echoing what we heard early on in our inquiry—to increase the range of people and organisations that can refer cases to the commission, including the commission itself. Those provisions once again prompt their own … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms that Clauses 28(3) and 32 of the Troubles Bill already allow the Secretary of State and the Commission itself to refer cases, ensuring the government can discharge its ECHR Article 3 obligations.
Northern Ireland Office
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11 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Uncertainty persists regarding purpose and membership of victims and survivors advisory group.
While the principle of establishing a victims and survivors advisory group has been broadly welcomed, there is still uncertainty regarding its purpose, its relationship with existing forums, and whether the Government will act decisively, by way of amendment to the … Read more
Government Response
The government confirms that the VSAG membership will not include individuals involved in paramilitary violence and states that further information on its composition and terms of reference will be published under the Troubles Bill, addressing uncertainties about its purpose and representation.
Northern Ireland Office
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12 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Provide detailed guidance on victims and survivors advisory group's remit, composition, and operation.
The Government must provide detailed guidance on the group’s remit, composition, and operation to address these concerns and ensure it delivers on its intended role of genuinely representing victims and survivors. (Recommendation, Paragraph 81)
Government Response
The government commits to publishing further information on the VSAG's composition, ensuring it excludes individuals involved in paramilitary violence, and its terms of reference under Clauses 9 and 8(7) of the Troubles Bill, addressing the call for detailed guidance.
Northern Ireland Office
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13 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Unresolved questions remain regarding conflicts of interest determination and disclosure processes.
The new provisions on conflicts of interest in the Joint Framework and Troubles Bill are, ultimately, a reflection of the political realities of Northern Ireland. By stating this matter of fact, we do not seek to impugn the integrity of … Read more
Government Response
The government clarifies that the Troubles Bill contains extensive provisions (Clauses 44-47) regarding conflicts of interest, asserting the Secretary of State will have no role, and details how the CEO, commission officers, and family consultation processes will address potential conflicts.
Northern Ireland Office
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14 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Clarify directors' investigation experience definition and arbitration process for disagreements.
The Government must also clarify what constitutes for one director, ‘experience of conducting criminal investigations in Northern Ireland’, given the proposal that the other director, ‘will not have that experience but will have experience of conducting criminal investigations outside Northern … Read more
Government Response
The government clarified that 'experience' relates to professional background, citing examples like Operation Kenova. It also stated that the Oversight Board will arbitrate disagreements between directors, and their decision must be complied with.
Northern Ireland Office
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17 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Secretary of State's broad discretion risks premature closure of the Legacy Commission.
The Bill’s provisions for winding up the commission grant the Secretary of State broad discretion, raising concerns that it could be closed prematurely for political or resource-based reasons. There is a case for clearer consultation requirements and evidence-based decisions to … Read more
Government Response
The government details existing significant safeguards in Clause 25 for winding up the Legacy Commission, including requirements for consultation, published reports, and parliamentary approval via affirmative procedure, indicating that these address concerns.
Northern Ireland Office
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23 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Provide more detail on ICIR's relationship with Legacy Commission and verification processes.
The Government must provide more detail on the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR), including its relationship with the Legacy Commission, the sequencing of the work of both bodies, the extent to which an information ‘firewall’ exists between them, the … Read more
Government Response
The government provides extensive detail on the ICIR, explaining its treaty basis, the rationale for a three-year pilot phase, and how the Troubles Bill (Clauses 75 and 78) defines its relationship and sequencing with the Legacy Commission to prevent duplication and ensure information credibility.
Northern Ireland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 27 of 15 classified
Accepted 8
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 11
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 2
Total 15 recs + 12 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
10 Dec 2025 Correspondence with SoS NI relating to legacy, dated 03 Dec 2025 and 15 Sept 2025
Parliament page
26 Nov 2025 Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to funding for legacy mechanisms, dated 20 November 2025.
Parliament page
17 Sep 2025 Correspondence with the Secretary of State, relating to an announcement about Government policy on the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland, dated 17 September 2025.
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12 Jun 2025 Correspondence to the Secretary of State, relating to legacy, dated 11 June 2025.
Parliament page