Addressing the Legacy of the Troubles: Rights-Based Truth and Reconciliation

Today, 17th February, 2026, Labour Leader and Spokesperson for Northern Ireland Ivana Bacik hosted a briefing for Oireachtas Members on the Legacy Framework. Deputy Bacik was joined by experts from human rights and civil liberties organisations, Daniel Holder (Committee on the Administration on Justice), Gráinne Teggart (Amnesty International NI) and Joe O’Brien (Irish Council for Civil Liberties), and by Leader of the SDLP Claire Hanna MP.

Deputy Bacik said,

“I am very grateful to all four speakers for providing attendees with an opportunity to hear directly from human rights and civil rights experts regarding best practice when it comes to ensuring truth and reconciliation for victims and survivors of the Troubles. I am concerned that Members of the Oireachtas can show a concerning lack of curiosity when it comes to safeguarding the delicate peace that exists in Northern Ireland.

“I am committed to a United Ireland. However, our aspiration must be for uniting people, as opposed to territories alone. The ceasefire may be three decades in place but, for many, the wounds of the conflict have yet to heal. The Irish Government – and Members of the Oireachtas – have a role to play, in addition to the British Government, in bringing that about. The Dáil debated the Kenova Report last week; much of that debate took place in the context of British State collusion and a continued refusal to engage openly. However, no one group has the monopoly on this. All of us can do more.

“My hope is that today’s briefing will have equipped more TDs and Senators with a foundation they can use to better advocate for the civil and human rights of all those impacted on by the Troubles.”

Claire Hanna MP, Leader of the SDLP, said,

“Today was an opportunity to reaffirm our commitments and that of the Irish Government that any legacy commission should be ECHR compliant, victim centred and ensure no one is beyond the reach of any court in the UK or Ireland.

“The Irish government must hold steadfast in its support of robust disclosure, independence and full truths in any legacy mechanism and no interstate case can be gambled away on a promise when we have a record of suppression, obstruction and departure from international agreements.

“The SDLP are supportive of the joint framework but we now require legislation that meets the ambitions of human rights compliance expected by all victims of the Troubles.”

Daniel Holder, Director of the Belfast-based human rights group Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) said, 

“Boris Johnson’s 2023 Legacy Act was a shocking piece of legislation designed to ensure impunity for the UK military, the Irish Government was right to challenge it. The Joint Framework the two governments unveiled last autumn marked a return to a viable process. What we now need is for pressure to be kept up for the UK to implement it in a human rights compliant manner.”

Joe O’Brien, Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties said,

“While ICCL welcomed the publication of the Joint Framework agreement on Legacy last year, we have fundamental reservations with one of the main Irish Government commitments in the agreement. The new Garda Unit for co-ordination and liaison does not fulfil the investigative independence requirements under the European Convention on Human Rights. Many legacy cases North and South involve credible information suggesting either complicit or deeply deficient actions on behalf of security forces. Many families have campaigned for decades for the simple truth and justice, they deserve an independent, transparent and victim centred approach.”

Gráinne Teggart, Northern Ireland Deputy Director for Amnesty International UK, said,

“This is a critical time for victims and the right to truth. The opportunity must be taken to deliver a way forward that respects and protects victims’ rights. The UK government’s Troubles Bill will not be the fresh start needed unless changes are made. Victims deserve fairness, not further failure. It is very clear that this legislation in its current form risks repeating the very patterns that eroded trust in previous attempts to deal with the past.

“We are deeply concerned that woven through this new Bill is the retention, in substance, of a sweeping national security veto – one that could still deny families their right to truth and conceal state wrongdoing. Other problems must be addressed too. We urge the Irish government to press the UK government to ensure legislation that is fit for purpose and meets human rights obligations.”