Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Conclusion 16
Third Report: Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past: the Government’s New Proposals (Interim Report)
Published 26 Oct 2020
Paragraph 55
Addressed to Northern Ireland Executive; Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s past: The UK Government's New Proposals All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The Commissioner for Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland performs the duties set out in the Victims and Survivors (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. Those duties include promoting and safeguarding the interests of victims and survivors and reviewing laws, practices and services. We note that this key role has been vacant since 31 August 2020. We respectfully urge, given that the appointment of the Victims Commissioner is a devolved competence, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive to fill the position of Victims Commissioner as speedily as possible.
From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Third Report: Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past: the Government’s New Proposals (Interim Report) (HC 329), paragraph 55, 26 October 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 18 January 2021.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government says there is room for further constructive dialogue but also "a number of key issues on which we are in agreement" with the Committee, and it commits to continued engagement on legacy reform.
- On information recovery, the government welcomes the Committee's conclusions, says it believes "it is right to focus on information recovery", and says it "carefully considers all options" so any process is "fit for purpose". It "notes" the suggestion that it learn lessons from Operation Kenova.
- On veterans, it welcomes the Committee's recognition that decoupling Northern Ireland legacy issues from the Overseas Operations Bill is right, and says it will deliver on its commitments to NI veterans "as part of a wider package".
- On engagement, it is "in complete agreement" with the Committee that consultation with victims' groups, Northern Ireland parties and, to the extent necessary, the Irish Government should be transparent and meaningful.
- It makes no dated commitment, but says it will intensify engagement with key stakeholders going into the new year and share further details of its proposals "in due course".