Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Paragraph: 29
The Government must: a) set out the rationale for its decision to abandon the model...
Recommendation
The Government must: a) set out the rationale for its decision to abandon the model of a separate Historical Investigations Unit and Independent Commission for Information Retrieval proposed in the Stormont House draft Bill; and b) explain the potential merits of forming a single organisation to perform both investigations and information recovery.
Paragraph Reference:
29
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government believes it is right to focus on information recovery and providing answers to those with questions about what happened to their loved ones. Committee members have highlighted the different approaches suggested for information retrieval, from the proposed Independent Commission for Information Retrieval to Operation Kenova.6 It is important that the Government carefully considers all options and works through all the concerns expressed, both to this Committee and through the Government consultation, to ensure that any information recovery process is fit for purpose and maximises the chances of providing victims and families with as much information as possible about the circumstances of the death of a loved one—before the opportunity to do so is lost. Victims and survivors have waited too long—with many sadly passing on without ever knowing the truth—which is why the Government is determined to get this right.