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MPs on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee have today released a report calling for greater clarity and detail in the Government’s proposed Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. This follows an extensive inquiry that incorporated both oral and written submissions - most notably the evidence provided by Warwick-based researchers Feargal Cochrane, Neophytos Loizides and Aimee Smith  - which significantly shaped the Committee’s findings.

The report sets out several urgent priorities for the Government as it prepares for detailed legislative scrutiny:

• Operational transparency and independence
  MPS raised concerns about the evolving role of what will be known as the Legacy Commission, particularly the broad discretionary powers of the Secretary of State. They urge safeguards to ensure the Commission’s methods, governance, and accountability are fully explained.
• Compliance with human rights standards
  The Committee confirmed there is no explicit requirement in the Bill for investigations to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), calling this a critical omission.
• Inclusive stakeholder engagement
  The report emphasised the need for truly meaningful consultation, noting many feel they were “listened to but not heard.” It calls for a robust strategy that gives victims, survivors, veterans, and civic society central and ongoing roles in shaping the process.
• Cross-border coordination
  MPs demand that the Republic of Ireland accelerate its legacy frameworks—on information-sharing and investigation—with the Irish government urged to “move at pace” to establish human rights-compliant structures aligned with UK reforms.

How Warwick researchers shaped the report

Written evidence from Feargal Cochrane, Neophytos Loizides and Aimee Smith, alongside colleagues from the universities of Kent, Essex and Cyprus, addressed key thematic concerns that now feature prominently in the Committee’s recommendations:

• “Root and branch” reforms
  The team advocated for comprehensive change across legacy and reconciliation mechanisms to restore public trust—positioned as essential for the new legislative framework.
• Principles of inclusion, transparency, and accountability
  Drawing on peace-process theory and past precedence, the authors emphasized:

1. Central roles for victims’ families and civic groups.
2. Institutional detachment from political control.
3. ECHR compliance as a legal foundation.
4. Adaptability built into the architecture of legacy bodies.
5. Parallel informal and formal information-gathering channels.
6. Cross-border cooperation rooted in the Stormont House Agreement.

These six principles directly mirror the report’s emphasis: operational independence, human rights alignment, adaptive structures, and deep, sustained stakeholder engagement.

Committee’s next steps

As the Troubles Bill enters Committee stage in the House of Commons, MPs will propose amendments to embed these principles. The Committee’s chair, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, stressed that this is a “golden opportunity” to ensure the new Legacy Commission earns public trust across communities.

The contribution of PAIS colleagues to this inquiry has clearly resonated with the Committee, helping shape recommendations focused on inclusivity, transparency, independence, and human rights compliance. This influence ensures the voices of victims, civic society, and expert stakeholders remain central as the legislation moves forward.

For further information and to read the report in full visit https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/120/northern-ireland-affairs-committee/news/210710/mps-call-for-more-detail-and-greater-clarity-on-governments-northern-ireland-legacy-plans/