Northern Ireland: Commission for Victims and Survivors

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2020 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

Yes. Again, I can hear the frustration in the comments made by the noble Lord. However, I assure him that, as he will expect me to say—it is true—this is a priority. There are other priorities but this is a priority, and I know that the various parties want to move ahead to address the long-spoken-about legacy issues.

[Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (DUP) [V]]

Does the Minister agree that innocent victims have been traumatised enough through a long and vicious terrorist campaign? They do not need a rewriting of the history of the past to excuse IRA terrorism but require proper justice, a recognition of their suffering and a hastening of the payment of pensions and compensation where appropriate.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

I understand that the general theme from the noble Lord is focused on justice but we must be clear that, with the passage of time—he will know this—the number of convictions flowing from any investigative process is likely to be low. That is why, on the back of the consultation, we think that it is right to move forward, focusing on information recovery and reconciliation, which is a vital part of it.