AQW 9819/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 10/04/2024
Answered On Date: 22/04/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister when they will publish a formal response to the Truth Recovery Programme, including reference to the legislation recommended by the Truth Recovery Design Panel.

Answer:

The Executive’s formal response to the findings of the Truth Recovery Design Panel’s, “Truth, Acknowledgement and Accountability” Report into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses from October 2021 was conveyed by way of a Statement in the Assembly on 15 November 2021.

We have reaffirmed this commitment in the Chamber in response to Assembly Questions on several occasions since the new Assembly and Executive was restored in February 2024.

In addition to confirming the Executive’s intention to implement the five key recommendations in the Report, we have specified our intention to introduce the requisite legislation to establish a statutory Public Inquiry and redress schemes at the earliest opportunity.

Additionally, the Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Bill was enacted in May 2022 and has been invaluable in assisting the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland to request historical records from Institutions and the important process of preserving, digitising, and cataloguing the 4,500 records identified from initial survey of private records.