Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to Written Ministerial Statement HCWS168 on Addressing Northern Ireland Legacy Issues, published on 18 March 2020, which community organisations (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have met with to discuss legacy issues since 18 March 2020.
Answered by Robin Walker
Since March, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and officials from the Northern Ireland Office have met with various community groups, including victim support groups, religious leaders and groups from across academia and civic society.
Despite the challenging circumstances presented by the ongoing Covid-19 situation, engagement continued throughout the summer months and continues to take place.
The UK Government remains committed to making progress on legacy issues, and recognises the importance of working with all parts of the community in Northern Ireland as part of this process.
Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to section 73(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is representative of the community in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
Appointments to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland are made on merit following an open and transparent process regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). All stages of the process are overseen by an independent panel member. In order to reach potentially under-represented groups, the appointments for which the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible are advertised widely online, in the local press in Northern Ireland and promoted through stakeholder networks. In addition, as part of the Northern Ireland Office’s commitments under the Disability Confident Scheme, a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for the job are invited to interview.
Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to section 68(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is representative of the community in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
Appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are made on merit following an open and transparent process regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). All stages of the process are overseen by an independent panel member. In order to reach potentially under-represented groups, the appointments for which the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible are advertised widely online, in the local press in Northern Ireland and promoted through stakeholder networks. In addition, as part of the Northern Ireland Office’s commitments under the Disability Confident Scheme, a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for the job are invited to interview.
Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to Schedule 1 to the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Parades Commission of Northern Ireland is representative of the community in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
Appointments to the Parades Commission of Northern Ireland are made on merit following an open and transparent process regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). All stages of the process are overseen by an independent panel member. In order to reach potentially under-represented groups, the appointments for which the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible are advertised widely online, in the local press in Northern Ireland and promoted through stakeholder networks. In addition, as part of the Northern Ireland Office’s commitments under the Disability Confident Scheme, a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for the job are invited to interview.
Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to Written Statement WS168 made on 18 March 2020, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to tackle the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has been clear that it will bring forward legislation to address the legacy of the troubles which focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims, and ensures that Northern Ireland veterans are treated as fairly as those who served overseas. We are committed to making progress on this as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to consult (a) the new Government of the Republic of Ireland, (b) victims groups and (c) individuals on the proposals set out in his Written Statement of 18 March 2020 WS168 on Addressing Northern Ireland Legacy Issues.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government remains committed to making progress on legacy issues, and engaging with the Irish Government, the Northern Ireland parties and victims groups on the way forward, as quickly as possible. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recognises the importance of working with all parts of the community in Northern Ireland as part of this process.
Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he had the Government of the Republic of Ireland prior to the publication of his Written Statement of 18 March 2020 WS168 on Addressing Northern Ireland Legacy Issues.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland spoke to the Irish Government and all party leaders before the Government’s Written Ministerial Statement was published on 18 March. Engagement has also taken place with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland parties since 18 March.
Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which (a) victims groups and (b) individuals he has consulted since the publication of his Written Statement of 18 March 2020 WS168 on Addressing Northern Ireland Legacy Issues.
Answered by Robin Walker
I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer I gave on 8 July 2020 (UIN 68732).
Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the Written Statement of 18 March 2020, HCWS168, Addressing Northern Ireland Legacy Issues, which (a) victims groups and (b) people he has consulted on the content of that statement since that statement was published.
Answered by Robin Walker
Since the Written Statement of 18 March 2020, HCWS168, Addressing Northern Ireland Legacy Issues, the department has undertaken a number of engagements with groups funded under the Victims and Survivors Service’s Victims Support Programme, at both ministerial and official level. The department has also engaged with the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors, the Victims and Survivors Service Board, and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as well as a range of individuals from across civic society and academia. Engagement has also taken place with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland parties.
The UK Government remains committed to making progress on legacy issues as quickly as possible, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recognises the importance of engaging with stakeholders, including victims groups, who represent all parts of the community in Northern Ireland as part of this process.
Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the Answer of 28 February 2020 to Question 15056 on the Stormont House Agreement, how many days of the 100-day period in which to introduce legislation to implement the Stormont House Agreement have elapsed.
Answered by Robin Walker
The ‘New Decade New Approach’ deal was tabled at talks between the Northern Ireland political parties which resulted in the formation of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly on 11 January 2020. As part of ‘New Decade, New Approach’, the UK Government committed to introducing legislation within 100 days.
The Government is committed to introducing legislation which provides reconciliation for victims and greater certainty for veterans and will set out further detail about this legislation shortly.