Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Paragraph: 15
The Committee welcome the Government’s desire to legislate to address the legacy of the past...
Recommendation
The Committee welcome the Government’s desire to legislate to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. Our predecessor Committee’s inquiry in the previous Parliament identified flaws in the draft Bill which would have prevented its receiving broad support in Northern Ireland. However, the new proposals represent a unilateral and unhelpful departure from the Stormont House Agreement rather than positive and progressive evolution. The Government must, as soon as possible, introduce legislation that is consistent with the six principles of the Stormont House Agreement: • promoting reconciliation; • upholding the rule of law; • acknowledging and addressing the suffering of victims and survivors; • facilitating the pursuit of justice and information recovery; • complying with human rights; and • being balanced, proportionate, transparent, fair and equitable.
Paragraph Reference:
15
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
I am writing following the publication, on 26 October, of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee’s interim report, “Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past: the Government’s New proposals—Third Report of Session 2019–21.” I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Committee for the work they have taken forward and to recognise the contributions of the many witnesses and others who have provided written or oral evidence, particularly given the challenging circumstances of the past year. The Government will continue to take these contributions and the work of the Committee into account as we move forward in delivering on our commitment to deal with the legacy of the Troubles in a way which focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims, and ends the cycle of re-investigations that has failed victims and veterans alike. The Committee will be aware that legacy reform remains a matter of ongoing sensitive policy development and engagement. While it is clear that there is room for further constructive dialogue in a number of areas, there are also a number of key issues on which we are in agreement.