Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2022
399. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for legislation on the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval Bill which has been on the legislative programme for several sessions but no heads have been published to date. [46886/22]
View answerThe Stormont House Agreement, concluded by the two Governments and the Northern Ireland Parties in December 2014, provides for a framework of measures to address the legacy of troubles-related violence in Northern Ireland. The framework of measures agreed include the establishment of the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR).
Given the cross-border nature of the ICIR, in September 2015, the Government signed an International Agreement with the British Government on the establishment of the Independent Commission for Information Retrieval (ICIR). The development of proposals for legislation to establish the ICIR in this jurisdiction have been progressed, in close cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Heads of Bill are well advanced. However, ICIR will require legislation to be enacted in both jurisdictions with parallel provisions in order for it to come into effect, which is presenting a particular difficulty at the current time.
As the Deputy will be aware, the UK Government published the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill in May. The Bill has passed through the House of Commons and is currently being considered by the House of Lords. The Bill does not provide for an Independent Commission for Information Retrieval as set out in the Stormont House Agreement and therefore our legislation cannot be progressed at this time. The Irish Government has expressed its opposition to this legislation, as have all political parties in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Commission for Human Rights, many victims groups and others.
The Government will continue to engage and work with the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland on this very important issue.
