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
11 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
NIO’s pre-announcement consultation strategy for Joint Framework generated significant criticism and distrust.
The NIO’s consultation and communications strategy prior to the announcement of the Joint Framework attracted criticism from families, victims-survivors and others. The contents of the Joint Framework and the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill may be interpreted by those who raised … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges past criticisms regarding consultation by stating it has been informed by significant stakeholder engagement and will continue to engage openly and closely with all parties as the Troubles Bill progresses.
Northern Ireland Office
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2 Recommendation Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Implement a strategy to ensure genuine public consultation on future policy proposals.
In future consultation rounds, the Government must implement a strategy whereby people feel genuinely consulted on policy proposals, not simply told what that policy will be. (Recommendation, Paragraph 20) The Commission
Government Response
The government states it has been informed by significant stakeholder engagement and will continue to engage closely and openly with all interested parties as the Troubles Bill progresses, considering how it can be improved, without committing to a new formal consultation strategy.
Northern Ireland Office
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4 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Joint Framework offers reset for Troubles investigations, but raises questions on five-year window.
The Joint Framework and Troubles Bill offer a chance to reset the investigation process for Troubles-related cases. Despite reassurances from ICRIR, some stakeholders continued to have misgivings about the 80 commission’s work. Many families and others have entrusted ICRIR with … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the ICRIR's capabilities and ongoing investigations, stating it will do all it can to support the ICRIR in discharging its duties while reforms are considered and implemented.
Northern Ireland Office
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9 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Oversight board's independent chair still appointed by the Secretary of State.
The proposed oversight board for the commission has been criticised for a perceived lack of independent membership. The Government’s confirmation that it will be led by an independent, non-executive chair is welcome, although we note that “independent” still entails appointment … Read more
Government Response
The government clarified the composition and remit of the Oversight Board, noting it comprises non-executive Commissioners and CEO, and is designed to establish robust governance by scrutinizing the Commission's functions.
Northern Ireland Office
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18 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Concerns about judicial independence and potential investigatory hierarchy within the Legacy Commission.
The Government’s plans for an enhanced inquisitorial mechanism through the Legacy Commission are seen by some as an improvement on the system introduced by the 2023 Act. We heard there are concerns, however, that they could lead to a hierarchy … Read more
Government Response
The government states that all Legacy Commission investigations will thoroughly examine cases and be capable of leading to prosecutions, ensuring all families have access to information and human rights obligations are met, thereby addressing concerns about a hierarchy of investigative processes without specifically detailing how judicial independence in appointments will be assured.
Northern Ireland Office
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19 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Solicitor General's proposed role in triaging cases undermines trust in the Inquisitorial Mechanism.
Stakeholders have different interpretations of the potential powers and effectiveness of the Enhanced Inquisitorial Mechanism; some are enthusiastic, others concerned about its powers compared with the inquest system. The Government also has a balancing act to perform, between ensuring that … Read more
Government Response
The government explains that all Commission investigations will examine circumstances, provide reports to families, and be capable of leading to prosecution, thereby fulfilling human rights obligations and providing information.
Northern Ireland Office
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20 Recommendation Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Ensure effective investigation of legacy cases, reopening defective ones with appropriate safeguards.
By introducing what it refers to as six new protections for veterans, the Government has attempted to address concerns among former military personnel and others that legacy investigations, whether leading to prosecution or not, have amounted to punishment in themselves. … Read more
Government Response
The government explains the purpose of veteran protections and commits to continued engagement with veterans to inform careful consideration of additional measures, acknowledging concerns that current provisions may not go far enough.
Northern Ireland Office
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22 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Insufficient clarity on ICIR's operations, sequencing, and relationship with the Legacy Commission.
Although proposals to establish the ICIR have been broadly welcomed, notable concerns remain. Alongside criticism of the proposal for the ICIR to operate on a pilot basis, there is insufficient clarity regarding the sequencing of its work and that of … Read more
Government Response
The government clarifies details about the ICIR, stating that the Troubles Bill sets out the sequencing of work with the Legacy Commission and details provisions for information protection and verification.
Northern Ireland Office
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24 Recommendation Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Urge the Government of Ireland to establish human rights-compliant legacy investigations at pace.
We welcome the commitment to cooperation on legacy between the UK Government and the Government of Ireland. Ireland now needs to demonstrate its own commitment to establishing and completing human rights-compliant investigations, underpinned by legislation. There is a lack of … Read more
Government Response
The government reports that the Irish Government has established a dedicated unit for Troubles-related cases and is progressing legislation for cooperation, in line with Joint Framework commitments. It notes that questions about the unit's independence are for the Irish Government.
Northern Ireland Office
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25 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Reconciliation requires bottom-up effort, though government can foster spaces and symbols.
Pathways to reconciliation are myriad and complex for every individual, and neither a government, nor a commission, can advance this from the top down. It will emerge only through the diverse acts, large and small, of the people of Northern … Read more
Government Response
The government reaffirms its commitment to Part 4 of the Legacy Act for oral history, memorialisation, and academic themes, and notes progress on an independently led official history and a digitisation project supporting reconciliation.
Northern Ireland Office
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27 Conclusion Acknowledged
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Societal reconciliation's success depends on people's admissions and acknowledgment of truth.
We plan to inquire into societal reconciliation in more depth. At this juncture, however, it is clear—not least from the brave testimony of victims and survivors during this inquiry—that reconciliation stands a chance of succeeding only if accompanied by people’s … Read more
Government Response
The government agreed that unequivocal recognition and acknowledgment of past harm is an important element for reconciliation, citing the Joint Framework's commitment on such statements.
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