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
2 results
Clear
7 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report – The Government's new …
Address concerns about the Bill’s narrow definition of “close family member” and case exclusions.
The Government must address concerns about the Bill’s narrow definition of “close family member,” which may exclude relatives who often play a key role in pursuing information decades after incidents occurred. Ministers must also consider the merits of ensuring that … Read more
Government Response
The government defended its current definition of 'close family member' but committed to continue engaging and considering alternative views. It also defended the definition of 'serious physical or mental harm', citing other Bill provisions for referral where the harm definition is not met.
Northern Ireland Office
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21 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report – The Government's new …
PSNI's obligation to classify sensitive information creates an unfunded administrative burden.
We recognise the fundamental importance of balancing information disclosure with national security issues. Someone has to strike that balance. The Government did not undertake that role under the previous “Package of Measures” for investigating Troubles-related cases, nor does it under … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the suggestion of introducing a merits-based appeal against ministerial decisions on information disclosure, stating that decisions will be subject to appeal on judicial review principles and upholding the Executive's primacy in national security.
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