AQW 12399/22-27

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 how the choice of location of a memorial to victims and survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse in Parliament Buildings was communicated to victims groups.

Answer:

Since the State apology was delivered on 11 March 2022, officials have held several formal meetings with representative group leaders to discuss memorial plans. Officials have also kept representative group leaders updated on memorial plans through regular communication via e-mails and telephone calls.

Engagement events took place in November 2023 to discuss victims’ and survivors’ views on the working proposal for a memorial. Those who did not wish to attend the events but wished to share their thoughts on the memorial proposals were able to contact officials directly to share their views.

Officials explained that there are a number of challenges associated with a memorial bench in Parliament Buildings, including the building’s listed status and the fact that events are held in the Great Hall which necessitate the removal of benches, which might be considered contrary to the dignity appropriate for a memorial bench. They outlined clearly that the proposal was for a bench in the Rotunda area just outside the Assembly Chamber.

We will soon be meeting with victims and survivors representative groups and will consider all relevant proposals for a memorial. Officials will continue to engage with, and update, representative group leaders on memorial plans.