Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Conclusion 3

2nd Report – The Government's new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland Published 1 Dec 2025 Addressed to Northern Ireland Executive; Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee The Government's new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Conclusion (the committee's words)

Despite the Court of Appeal’s finding that the ICRIR had wide powers, unfettered access to all information, documents, and materials as it reasonably required, and was capable of human-rights compliant criminal investigations, ICRIR was unable to command confidence across the communities of Northern Ireland and beyond. This was a structural issue– one created by the legislation through which it was introduced. While we are sure it will continue to discharge its duties with integrity and rigour until the transition to the Legacy Commission, we are also clear that, unreformed, it would not have been able to win the trust of all communities. If all communities were to invest in and ultimately benefit from the answers that an organisation dealing with legacy cases can provide, significant reform was inevitable. We therefore welcome the Government’s willingness to address many of the concerns, from a range of stakeholders, through the Joint Framework and Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. Issues of clarification and refinement remain, however. (Conclusion, Paragraph 32)

From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, 2nd Report – The Government's new approach to addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland (HC 586), 1 December 2025

Government response

The government responded to the whole report on 12 February 2026 (deadline 1 February 2026).

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government responds to the Committee's recommendations on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill by stating that the Bill will deliver "the necessary reform of the Commission", while saying it will keep engaging and consider improvements as the Bill progresses.

On a statutory ECHR-compliance requirement, the government says that putting such a requirement in primary legislation for a specific function is "unnecessary", because the Commission will be subject to section 6 of the Human Rights Act.
On information disclosure, the government says it "does not intend to introduce a merits-based appeal" against ministerial decisions, citing the primacy of the Executive in decisions on the security of the State.
On the definition of "close family member", the government says it believes the current approach is "balanced", while recognising "different views" and saying it "will continue to engage and carefully consider these".
On veterans, the government will "not, therefore, accept any proposals" to reintroduce the Legacy Act's immunity provisions, but is giving "careful consideration" to additional measures that must be practically deliverable and human rights compliant.

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