Select Committee · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Reconciliation
Status: Open
Opened: 20 Apr 2026
Inquiry scope
Reconciliation remains central to the vision of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, whose multi‑party negotiators affirmed that lasting peace in Northern Ireland depended not only on strong political structures but on honouring those who suffered “the tragedies of the past” by “dedicating ourselves to the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance, and mutual trust, and to the protection and vindication of the human rights of all. ( The Belfast Agreement - GOV.UK , p.1) Almost 30 years later, however, reconciliation remains one of the most complex aspects of the peace process. Following our inquiry into the legacy of the past, we have agreed to examine societal reconciliation in greater depth, recognising the significance of reconciliation both within and, crucially, beyond the framework of legacy legislation. Read our call for evidence here for more detail about the inquiry and how to contribute your views.Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep 2026 | Joe McVey OBE · Commission for Victims and Survivors, Kenny Donaldson · South-East Fermanagh Foundation, Mark Thompson · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Sandra Peake · Wave Trauma Centre | View ↗ |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Dr. Jacqueline Irwin · Community Relations Council, Dympna McGlade · The Peace Summit Partnership, Martin McDonald MBE · Community Relations Council, Tim Attwood · The Peace Summit Partnership | View ↗ |
Written evidence
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| Reference | Date | Submitter |
|---|---|---|
| RIN0038 | 9 Sep 2026 | Community Relations Council |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Jacqueline Irwin · CEO | Community Relations Council | 1 |
| Dympna McGlade · Co-Lead | The Peace Summit Partnership | 1 |
| Joe McVey OBE · Commissioner for Victims and Survivors | Commission for Victims and Survivors | 1 |
| Kenny Donaldson · Director | South-East Fermanagh Foundation | 1 |
| Mark Thompson · Director, Northern Ireland, Biosecurity, and Trade Programme | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 1 |
| Martin McDonald MBE · Chair | Community Relations Council | 1 |
| Sandra Peake · Chief Executive Officer | Wave Trauma Centre | 1 |
| Tim Attwood · Foundation Secretary of the John and Pat Hume Foundation | The Peace Summit Partnership | 1 |