Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

Wednesday 26 February 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 were found to be unlawful.
  • The government is working to find a lawful way to address issues stemming from interim custody orders signed in 1972 and 1973.
  • The Shawcross report on Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism is under review by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Context

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 has been criticized for causing pain to victims and survivors, with sections found unlawful by courts. The Secretary of State had abandoned an appeal related to this act.

Question

Why did the Secretary of State abandon the appeal in Dillon and Ors?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)

Because sections 46 and 47 of the Act were found to be unlawful, and, as the right hon. Gentleman will be aware, the case that gave rise to the attempt to deal with the problem through those sections that have now been found to be unlawful arose from a Supreme Court judgment in 2020. For two and a bit years, the last Government were unable to find a solution.

Answered
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Q2 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
Northern Ireland Standards & Ethics
Context

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 has been criticized for causing pain to victims and survivors, with sections found unlawful by courts. The Secretary of State had abandoned an appeal related to this act.

Question

Notwithstanding the Secretary of State’s response, may I ask why this Labour Government are continuing to undermine the tough action taken by the Conservative Government on individuals who have acted against our democracy and society, such as Gerry Adams, by considering repealing the Act, giving Adams and others the possibility of a six-figure payout?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)

As I said during the last Northern Ireland questions, no one wants to see that happen. We are currently working to find a lawful way of dealing with the problems that were created by the way in which the original interim custody orders were signed in 1972 and, I think, 1973. In 2020, the Supreme Court found that orders that had not been signed and considered by the then Secretary of State were not lawful.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific issue of compensation for individuals like Gerry Adams was partially addressed but without a concrete commitment to prevent it from happening.

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Q3 Louise Haigh Lab Sheffield Heeley
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Shawcross report was commissioned to investigate Libyan sponsorship of the IRA. There are concerns about compensation for UK citizens who were victims.

Question

In 2019, Boris Johnson commissioned the Shawcross report on Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism. United States citizens have received compensation from the Libyan Government for attacks on British soil, but UK citizens never have. Will the Secretary of State work with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that the report is published?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)

The whole House will have profound sympathy for all the victims of Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism, and all the victims of the troubles. The Shawcross report was commissioned by the last Government as an internal report, and decisions on the report and its future are currently under review by the FCDO.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific issue of publishing the Shawcross report was partially addressed but without a commitment to immediate action.

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Q4 Mike Wood Con Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Standards & Ethics
Context

There are concerns that repealing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act could lead to compensation for individuals like Gerry Adams, who were involved in acts against democracy.

Question

People throughout the United Kingdom will be disgusted if former terrorists such as Gerry Adams receive compensation from the taxpayer because of Labour’s decision to repeal the legacy Act without putting something in its place. Will the Secretary of State finally commit himself to legislating immediately to prevent that from happening?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave a moment ago.

Not addressed: The specific issue of preventing compensation was not addressed and instead referred back to an earlier response.

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