Debate contribution: Legacy: Holding the Irish Government to Account

Debate contribution by Ms Paula Bradshaw on 23 September 2025.

MLA

Ms Paula Bradshaw

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

23 September 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Legacy: Holding the Irish Government to Account

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5129229

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I welcome the debate today. We should all keep one thing firmly in our minds this morning, which is the victims and survivors of the Omagh bomb and, indeed, all those bereaved, injured and killed during the entirety of the Troubles. They should be at the heart of today's discussion. Their voices must be heard, and their experiences and those of their family members must be used to guide how we deal with the difficult issues surrounding legacy. In considering the original motion, I found that, while it raises real concerns, it risks becoming more about political point-scoring than about real commitment to truth, justice and accountability for victims and survivors, and it takes us away from where the focus should be. Victims are not best served by jabbing rhetoric or a political blame game, passing responsibility back and forth between jurisdictions. They are best served by a practical, victim-centred, human rights-compliant approach.

I just want to make a bit of progress, then I will maybe let you in. It is because of that that I will oppose the motion and, instead, support the amendment —

— which I believe —

Excuse me. I will be heard in the Chamber. Thank you.

Mr Deputy Speaker, will you please rule?

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I feel that the amendment better places the emphasis on the lived experiences and realities of victims and survivors here. Of course, there must be cross-border cooperation, and, of course, legacy issues are an all-island responsibility, but that means working together to put victims first, not using them as pawns in a political contest. I was struck by a comment that a witness made at a Committee session on this very issue. He said — I am paraphrasing more than anything — that we will not see reconciliation on the island of Ireland unless both Governments step up to the plate and provide the information and evidence that they have. That needs to be at the heart of this.

Go ahead. I will, actually.

Thank you for that. I was ready for that question.

I totally agree that everybody who was involved in the Troubles should come forward with the evidence that they have. Do you not think that I find absolutely abhorrent what the IRA and others did to Northern Ireland? I hate it every day. I want to see reconciliation.

I am going to vote for an amendment that puts victims and survivors at the centre.

Mr Deputy Speaker, please.

Thank you. That is my frustration with this entire debate. These motions are tabled, and we have a ding-dong in the Chamber. Victims and survivors and their families look on in absolute disgust and horror at the childish behaviour in the Chamber. Can we please move on and put them at the heart of our work here, through the Executive Office Committee and its programmes and other departmental responsibilities? It is nauseating. The amendment focuses on one issue: a separate public inquiry by the Irish Government. I am conscious that that could result in victims and survivors being asked to give evidence more than once, and that that carries a real risk of re-traumatising families who have already endured that pain for more than 25 years. If such an inquiry goes ahead, there must be put in place robust victim support; access to counselling and legal advice; and, above all, a coordinated, all-island approach to evidence-giving, so that families are not forced to unnecessarily duplicate statements. In light of the recent agreement between the Irish and UK Governments, we have a new framework: a proposal for a reformed legacy commission, repeal of the immunity scheme and the reopening of inquests that had been stalled. That deal has the potential to deliver for families that have waited for decades. It offers us a real chance to deliver on the commitments that we are discussing. The overall direction of the amendment is right. It reaffirms the Assembly's position, recognises the failures of the current arrangement, and calls on the UK Government to ensure that any agreement with the Irish Government commands the confidence of victims and survivors. Without that confidence, no legacy mechanism can succeed. Legacy is a contentious issue for a reason. It is not easy, but we owe it to victims and survivors to approach it with honesty, compassion and practical solutions. The days of the politics of appeasement need to be placed behind us so that we can achieve meaningful and sustainable reconciliation on the island of Ireland.

755 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:10 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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