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Select Committee · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

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

Status: Closed Opened: 17 Dec 2024 Closed: 12 Feb 2026 15 recommendations 12 conclusions 1 report

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. This inquiry will examine the … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report – The Government's new approach to addressing th… HC 586 1 Dec 2025 27 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
5 Recommendation 2nd Report – The Government's new appro… Accepted in Part

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 in its final reports the questions families have asked, or … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 …
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Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
8 Recommendation 2nd Report – The Government's new appro… Accepted in Part

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 important confidence-building part of this process. To that end, the … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
10 Recommendation 2nd Report – The Government's new appro… Accepted in Part

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 build more confidence in its proposals, including what practicable steps … Read more

Government response AI summary
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, …
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Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
15 Recommendation 2nd Report – The Government's new appro… Accepted in Part

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 also clarify whether the powers of the Police Ombudsman for … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 …
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Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions
Date Witnesses
5 Nov 2025 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 View ↗
3 Sep 2025 Julie Harrison · Northern Ireland Office, Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP · Northern Ireland Office, Sharon Carter · Northern Ireland Office View ↗
21 May 2025 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) View ↗
7 May 2025 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 View ↗
23 Apr 2025 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 View ↗
19 Mar 2025 Alan Brecknell · Pat Finucane Centre, Dr Sandra Peake · Wave Trauma Centre, Kenny Donaldson · South-East Fermanagh Foundation View ↗
26 Feb 2025 Alyson Kilpatrick · Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Daniel Holder · Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), Professor Anna Bryson · Queen's University Belfast View ↗

Who gave evidence

22 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alyson Kilpatrick · Chief Commissioner Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission 2
David Johnstone · Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner Office of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner 2
Alan Brecknell · Advocacy Support Worker Pat Finucane Centre 1
Axel Schmidt · Advocacy Support Manager Ulster Human Rights Watch 1
Baroness Nuala O'Loan · Member House of Lords 1
Chris Albiston · Member of the Executive Committee Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers Association 1
Claire McGuigan · Detective Chief Superintendent Police Service of Northern Ireland 1
Daniel Holder · Director Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) 1
Dave Holmes · Rolling Thunder Liaison Northern Ireland Veterans Movement 1
Dr Sandra Peake · Chief Executive Officer Wave Trauma Centre 1
Joe McVey · Commissioner Commission for Victims and Survivors Northern Ireland 1
Jon Boutcher · Chief Constable Police Service of Northern Ireland 1
Julie Harrison · Permanent Secretary Northern Ireland Office 1
Kenny Donaldson · Director South-East Fermanagh Foundation 1
Louise Warde Hunter · Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) 1
Peter Sheridan CBE · Commissioner for Investigations Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) 1
Professor Anna Bryson · Professor, School of Law Queen's University Belfast 1
Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP · Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Office 1
Sharon Carter · Deputy Director of the Legacy Group Northern Ireland Office 1
Sir Declan Morgan · Chief Commissioner Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) 1
Sir Iain Livingstone · Lead Officer Operation Kenova 1
Steven Bramley CBE · General Counsel Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
10 Dec 2025 — Correspondence with SoS NI relating to legacy, dated 03 Dec 2025 and 15 Sept 20…
26 Nov 2025 — Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to funding for legacy mecha…
17 Sep 2025 — Correspondence with the Secretary of State, relating to an announcement about G…
12 Jun 2025 — Correspondence to the Secretary of State, relating to legacy, dated 11 June 202…