Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Provisions for increasing case referrals to commission prompt further questions.
Conclusion
We welcome the provisions in the Bill—echoing what we heard early on in our inquiry—to increase the range of people and organisations that can refer cases to the commission, including the commission itself. Those provisions once again prompt their own questions, however, which we note below. (Conclusion, Paragraph 56)
Government Response Summary
The government confirms that Clauses 28(3) and 32 of the Troubles Bill already allow the Secretary of State and the Commission itself to refer cases, ensuring the government can discharge its ECHR Article 3 obligations.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Secretary of State, under clause 28(3) of the Bill, is able to refer cases of harmful conduct to the Commission. The Commission, under Clause 32, is also able to initiate investigations if such an investigation is necessary for the purposes of ECHR compatibility. These provisions will ensure that the Government is able to discharge its ECHR Article 3 obligations, where that is required, in cases that do not meet the definition of serious physical or mental harm’.