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
4 results
Clear
5 Recommendation Accepted in Part
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Address concerns on ECHR-compliance, sexual crimes exclusion, disclosure risks, and commission powers.
The Government must address concerns about the lack of any specific requirement for the investigations process to be ECHR-compliant; the de facto exclusion of most Troubles-related sexual crimes from the commission’s remit; the perceived risk that the Commission may disclose … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that the Bill ensures ECHR-compliance through existing duties and removed immunity provisions to allow investigation of sexual offences. It also clarified how family questions will be handled, but defended the current definition of 'serious harm' and did not address the call for enhanced police powers.
Northern Ireland Office
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8 Recommendation Accepted in Part
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Consider binding Ministers to panel recommendations for commission appointments and publishing consultees.
The Troubles Bill partly addresses concerns about the Secretary of State’s wide-ranging powers of appointment to the commission under the Legacy Act. Relinquishing such powers to an independent entity may only raise questions of accountability, so transparency will be an … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation to publish a list of prospective consultees, including victim-survivor representation, noting this is required by Clause 9 of the Bill. However, it rejected the idea of the Minister being bound by a panel's recommendation, citing the need for ultimate oversight.
Northern Ireland Office
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10 Recommendation Accepted in Part
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Publish indicative list of consultees and clarify the oversight board's membership and remit.
In the interests of transparency, we recommend that the Government publish an indicative list of these consultees. Additionally, the Government must explain the membership and remit of the oversight board more clearly to those stakeholders in whom it needs to … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation in part, confirming that Clause 9 of the Troubles Bill requires the publication of a list of consultees and that Clause 4 mandates international expertise on the Oversight Board, whose remit is also explained. However, it rejects annual monitoring reviews, deeming existing biennial and quinquennial reviews sufficient and further obligations overly burdensome.
Northern Ireland Office
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15 Recommendation Accepted in Part
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Clarify commission complaint procedures for maladministration and Police Ombudsman's investigative powers over state actors.
The Joint Framework and Troubles Bill partially fill the gap in commission accountability left by the Legacy Act. It is still unclear, however, what procedure there is to complain about maladministration or service failure by the commission. The Government must … Read more
Government Response
The government clarified that the ICRIR's public Complaints Handling Policy will remain for the reformed Commission, with statutory provisions for independent performance reviews. It also confirmed PONI's powers apply to current and former PSNI/RUC officers. However, it rejected the idea for the Commission to investigate all Troubles-related offences by state actors, stating it will focus on serious offences as defined by the Bill.
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.
Parliament page
12 Jun 2025 Correspondence to the Secretary of State, relating to legacy, dated 11 June 2025.
Parliament page