AQW 12398/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 22/05/2024
Answered On Date: 04/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister when a skilled arts coordinator will be appointed to lead the engagement process with victims and survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse in relation to a memorial.

Answer:

We appreciate that this issue of memorial is sensitive and that there remain widely differing views. Some victims and survivors wish to see the specific Hart recommendation implemented in full, while others would like to see memorials outside Stormont and Belfast, or the implementation of a living memorial.

We will soon be meeting with victims’ and survivors’ representative groups to hear their views on an HIA memorial. We will consider all proposals in deciding how memorial plans should be progressed.

Officials have continued to engage with the Arts Council as appropriate and will engage further on next steps following the meetings with groups.