Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Human Rights (Joint Committee) Open Inquiry
Opened: 30 Oct 2025 Parliament page
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 14 October 2025 and is intended to repeal and replace various aspects of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, as well as to reform and supplement the wider approach of dealing with the legacy … Read more
9 Recommendations
30 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
4 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
7 Sep
2026
Report published
9 Jul
2026
Correspondence
4 Jun
2026
Correspondence
21 May
2026
Correspondence
22 Apr
2026
Oral evidence
28 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
30 Oct
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
22 Apr 2026
View on parliament.uk
Philip Shaw · Northern Ireland Office Legal Advisors Sharon Carter · Northern Ireland Office The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP · Northern Ireland Office
28 Jan 2026
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Alyson Kilpatrick · Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Gráinne Teggart · Amnesty International UK Joe McVey OBE · Commission for Victims and Survivors Oliver Sanders KC Professor Kieran McEvoy The Lord Houghton of Richmond GCB CBE DL
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill HC 162 7 Sep 2026 39 No response document linked
Recommendations & Conclusions
39 results
1 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The Troubles Bill has been drafted to give the government the maximum control possible over...
The Troubles Bill has been drafted to give the government the maximum control possible over disclosure. In terms of who makes the disclosure decision, the government has reserved that power to itself and placed the burden on individuals to challenge … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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2 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The Troubles Bill should be amended so that the primary decision on whether sensitive information...
The Troubles Bill should be amended so that the primary decision on whether sensitive information can be disclosed by the Legacy Commission in its reports under Part 3 or Part 4 should rest with the relevant Judicial Panel Member, not … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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3 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Alternatively, if the government has a compelling reason for having the Secretary of State as...
Alternatively, if the government has a compelling reason for having the Secretary of State as the primary decision maker rather than a judicial office holder, they must set out those reasons in public and in detail. It is insufficient simply … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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4 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
In our view, there is nothing on the face of the bill which would support...
In our view, there is nothing on the face of the bill which would support the Secretary of State’s insistence that a mere ‘risk’ of damaging national security constitutes a high bar, nor that the bill’s threshold corresponds to the … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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5 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The definition of “sensitive information” in clause 16(1) of the bill should be amended, either...
The definition of “sensitive information” in clause 16(1) of the bill should be amended, either by (1) removing the possibility that a mere “risk” of damage makes information “sensitive information”, thereby bringing the definition into line with the definition used … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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6 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Public inquiries and courts using the Closed Material Procedure can create documents containing ‘closed’ findings,...
Public inquiries and courts using the Closed Material Procedure can create documents containing ‘closed’ findings, in addition to the published ‘open’ findings. Such ‘closed’ findings are an integral part of an investigation being effective and thorough in ascertaining the facts … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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7 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
However, it is not clear that the Legacy Commission will have the power to do...
However, it is not clear that the Legacy Commission will have the power to do so under the bill as currently drafted. There is no principled reason why the Legacy Commission should not be able to produce ‘closed’ findings. Indeed, … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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8 Recommendation
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The government should amend the bill to give the Legacy Commission an explicit power to...
The government should amend the bill to give the Legacy Commission an explicit power to produce a ‘closed’ final report in addition to an ‘open’ final report in appropriate cases. (Recommendation, Paragraph 51)
Ministry of Justice
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9 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The government’s position is that Special Advocates will not appear before the Legacy Commission and...
The government’s position is that Special Advocates will not appear before the Legacy Commission and that the role of probing and challenging evidence in inquisitorial proceedings could be adequately conducted by the “counsel to the inquisitorial proceedings”. We have a … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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10 Recommendation
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The government should reconsider whether the bill should be amended to allow for Special Advocates...
The government should reconsider whether the bill should be amended to allow for Special Advocates to be appointed to inquisitorial proceedings in exceptional circumstances. In any case, if the courts in due course confirm that the provisions in the Inquiries … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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11 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We are concerned that the cumulative effect of the current disclosure provisions in the Troubles...
We are concerned that the cumulative effect of the current disclosure provisions in the Troubles Bill is more restrictive than in comparable legal processes. The government has not given a sufficient explanation for why it has concluded that this choice … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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12 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
It is unclear why the Secretary of State has decided to follow the appointment model...
It is unclear why the Secretary of State has decided to follow the appointment model for public inquiry chairs rather than the appointment model for coroners. Although it is not possible to say in the abstract whether the Secretary of … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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13 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The Troubles Bill should be amended so that NIJAC rather than the Secretary of State...
The Troubles Bill should be amended so that NIJAC rather than the Secretary of State is responsible for appointing JPMs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 78)
Ministry of Justice
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14 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The current thresholds for Legacy Commission investigations have been set in arbitrary places, with real...
The current thresholds for Legacy Commission investigations have been set in arbitrary places, with real world consequences for other organisations and the coherence of the Legacy Commission’s purpose. (Conclusion, Paragraph 94)
Ministry of Justice
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15 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Instead of fragmenting the investigative processes, the Legacy Commission should be empowered to investigate all...
Instead of fragmenting the investigative processes, the Legacy Commission should be empowered to investigate all cases which fall within Article 2 or 3 ECHR, regardless of who makes the request. It should be able to investigate 93 all Troubles-related deaths … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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16 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The definition of Close Family Member in the Troubles Bill is currently drawn too narrowly.
The definition of Close Family Member in the Troubles Bill is currently drawn too narrowly. The current definition does not match Article 2 ECHR’s approach of ensuring sufficient involvement of the ‘next-of-kin’, which is not exhaustively defined. In addition, the … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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17 Recommendation
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The government should amend the exhaustive list of Close Family Members in clause 93(2) to...
The government should amend the exhaustive list of Close Family Members in clause 93(2) to add an additional catch-all final category: “(g) F is the next-of-kin”. This will ensure that family members such as grandchildren, nieces and nephews of the … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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18 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Clause 67(5) should also be amended to ensure that, even if there are Close Family...
Clause 67(5) should also be amended to ensure that, even if there are Close Family Members, the Legacy Commission has a discretion to allow other family members to make personal statements as well, if appropriate. (Recommendation, Paragraph 107)
Ministry of Justice
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19 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We remain concerned that the two-track approach to the 38 halted inquests is a recipe...
We remain concerned that the two-track approach to the 38 halted inquests is a recipe for mistrust and confusion. If inquisitorial proceedings in the Legacy Commission can do everything inquests can do and more, it is not clear why all … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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20 Recommendation
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The Secretary of State should publish the reasons he has determined that nine of the...
The Secretary of State should publish the reasons he has determined that nine of the 38 revived inquests should return to coroners. These reasons should be specific to the facts and circumstances of each individual case, not generalisations about the … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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21 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
It is unacceptable that the government has not given an unambiguous commitment that the Duty...
It is unacceptable that the government has not given an unambiguous commitment that the Duty of Candour will apply to any revived inquest conducted by a coroner in the same way as it would apply to any revived 94 inquest … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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22 Recommendation
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The government should publicly commit to ensuring that the Duty of Candour under the Public...
The government should publicly commit to ensuring that the Duty of Candour under the Public Office (Accountability) Bill applies in the same way to legacy inquests conducted by coroners as to inquisitorial proceedings conducted by the Legacy Commission. (Recommendation, Paragraph … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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23 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We welcome the inclusion of a ‘safety valve’ which would allow public authorities to request...
We welcome the inclusion of a ‘safety valve’ which would allow public authorities to request investigations after the five-year time-limit in limited circumstances. We cannot see why the same approach should not be extended to victims and their families. (Conclusion, … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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24 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Clause 27 should be amended so that victims and their families can request investigations after...
Clause 27 should be amended so that victims and their families can request investigations after the five-year time-limit on the same terms as public authorities, namely where an investigation is necessary for the purposes of ECHR compatibility, or where new … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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25 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We remain concerned that, in individual cases, the blanket inadmissibility of evidence held by the...
We remain concerned that, in individual cases, the blanket inadmissibility of evidence held by the ICIR could contribute to a serious miscarriage of justice. However, we also recognise the force in the argument that the ICIR will be unable to … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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26 Recommendation
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
In its response to this report, the government should set out its detailed legal analysis...
In its response to this report, the government should set out its detailed legal analysis concerning: a. Whether the blanket inadmissibility of ICIR-held evidence in criminal proceedings is compatible with human rights in particular where key exculpatory evidence for a … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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27 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The Secretary of State implied in oral evidence that clause 81(4)(c) would allow him to...
The Secretary of State implied in oral evidence that clause 81(4)(c) would allow him to make regulations about the waiving of the ICIR’s blanket immunity from “suit and legal process”, as set out in clause 81(1). This does not appear … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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28 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
If the Secretary of State’s policy intention behind clause 81 is that he should be...
If the Secretary of State’s policy intention behind clause 81 is that he should be able to make regulations about the waiving of the ICIR’s blanket immunity from suit and legal process, the bill should be amended accordingly to make … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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29 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
In order to ensure compatibility with the right of access to a court under Article...
In order to ensure compatibility with the right of access to a court under Article 6 ECHR, the Secretary of State should also consider setting up an independent process which would allow individuals to seek independent redress in appropriate cases—such … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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30 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We are concerned that the pilot nature of the ICIR will inhibit it fulfilling its...
We are concerned that the pilot nature of the ICIR will inhibit it fulfilling its potential and carrying out its important work. When the Governments of the UK and Ireland review the success of the pilot, this should be in … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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31 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We also recommend that the Governments of the UK and Ireland should agree forthwith to...
We also recommend that the Governments of the UK and Ireland should agree forthwith to extend the pilot of the ICIR to at least five years. This would allow for the time period in which family members can request information … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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32 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
Veterans are both subject to domestic law and entitled to the protections of the UK’s...
Veterans are both subject to domestic law and entitled to the protections of the UK’s domestic and international human rights obligations. We acknowledge the sincerely held concerns of Veterans today that legal processes involved in inquests, civil claims and criminal … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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33 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We welcome the protections set out in the Troubles Bill to ensure that the process...
We welcome the protections set out in the Troubles Bill to ensure that the process of engaging with Legacy processes is fair for everyone, including for Veterans. We intend to conduct further scrutiny of the government’s package of amendments to … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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34 Recommendation
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We recommend that the government considers adding provisions to the bill to require the consent...
We recommend that the government considers adding provisions to the bill to require the consent of the Attorney General to prosecute any future Troubles-related offences. This approach could add an extra layer of assurance that there is accountability for prosecution … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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35 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We are deeply concerned by the government’s approach to the NI Remedial Order.
We are deeply concerned by the government’s approach to the NI Remedial Order. We accepted the government’s reasons for taking the remarkable step of using a remedial order at the same time as a bill on the same subject because … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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36 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
We are concerned that the government has not updated its initial funding allocation to the...
We are concerned that the government has not updated its initial funding allocation to the ICRIR, despite the additional burdens which will be placed on its successor—the Legacy Commission—by the Troubles Bill. Without adequate additional funding, the Legacy Commission risks … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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37 Recommendation
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The government should set out its revised funding plans for the Legacy Commission.
The government should set out its revised funding plans for the Legacy Commission. (Recommendation, Paragraph 228)
Ministry of Justice
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38 Conclusion
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
It is not good enough that Westminster and the Northern Ireland Executive cannot even agree...
It is not good enough that Westminster and the Northern Ireland Executive cannot even agree on who should be funding legacy matters. Without adequate funding to all organisations affected by the Troubles Bill, the bill 97 will not be able … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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39 Recommendation
3rd Report - Legislative Scrutiny:…
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, his Irish counterpart, and the Northern Ireland Executive...
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, his Irish counterpart, and the Northern Ireland Executive should continue having dialogue to resolve the funding impasse. In his response to this report, the Secretary of State should set out what discussions have … Read more
Ministry of Justice
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Correspondence 4 letters
9 Jul 2026 Correspondence to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding the NI Troubles Remedial Order and the NI Troubles Bill
Parliament page
4 Jun 2026 Correspondence from Secretary of State for Northern Ireland relating to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, 28 May 2026
Parliament page
21 May 2026 Correspondence to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland relating to Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, 21 May 2026
Parliament page
30 Oct 2025 Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to the Committee regarding the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, 23 October 2025
Parliament page