Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, Committee Stage

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill was considered in a Committee of the Whole House on Wednesday 29 Jun 2022. The committee stage of a Bill allows Members to scrutinise it line-by-line, usually in smaller Committees. A Committee of the Whole House is used for legislation of particular constitutional or ethical significance, and is chaired by the Deputy Speaker from a seat at the Table of the House.

The Bill proposes to end legal proceedings concerning Troubles-related conduct and provide conditional immunity from prosecution for those who cooperate with investigations conducted by a newly established Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

Amendment 97 would require that if an account given to the Commission by a defendant is found by the Commission not to be true to the best of the defendant’s knowledge and belief, that a prosecution file is submitted to the Public Prosecution Service. This amendment is intended to reduce the risk of claimants deliberately misleading the panel. The bar for immunity is at present set too low. I voted to support the Amendment, which did not pass, Ayes:191 and Noes: 271.

Amendment 98 would prevent the grant of immunity to any person subject to active proceedings who has moved abroad to escape prosecution. I voted to support the Amendment, which did not pass, Ayes: 175 and Noes: 271.

Question on successive provisions of the Bill: “That clause 18, as amended, and clauses 19 to 25 stand part of the Bill; that schedules 5 and 6 be the Fifth and Sixth schedules to the Bill; that clauses 26 and 27 stand part of the Bill; that schedule 7 be the Seventh schedule to the Bill; and that clauses 28 to 32 stand part of the Bill.” This question indicated support for the section of the Bill which addresses the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. The Government has not achieved sufficient support from groups representing victims of the Troubles, and their loved ones. Reconciliation cannot be imposed, but must rather be arrived at through negotiation. I voted against the inclusion of these provisions in the Bill, which were included, Ayes: 273 and Noes: 205.