Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the comments of the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission regarding the independence of the Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery and the Commissioner for Investigations.

The Government has confidence in the ability of the Independent Commission’s leadership and staff to effectively deliver for victims and survivors. The Court of Appeal has recognised the ICRIR’s structural independence and wide powers.

However, the confidence of families in the Commission’s work is paramount and that is why the Government is committed to reforming the Commission to further strengthen its powers and independence, as well as to ensure that legacy mechanisms are compliant with human rights obligations.