Commissioner for Victims and Survivors: Appointment

Oral Answers to Questions — The Executive Office – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:00 pm on 11 October 2021.

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Photo of Jemma Dolan Jemma Dolan Sinn Féin 2:00, 11 October 2021

5. Ms Dolan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on when the new Commissioner for Victims and Survivors will be appointed. (AQO 2545/17-22)

Photo of Paul Givan Paul Givan DUP

The deputy First Minister and I were pleased to announce the launch of the recruitment competition for the post of Commissioner for Victims and Survivors on Monday 27 September. The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 15 October. The commissioner will have an important role in ensuring that victims and survivors are supported. We encourage all those who have the relevant skills and experience to apply. We expect the interviews to take place during the week commencing 15 November and the new commissioner to be in post by early 2022.

Photo of Jemma Dolan Jemma Dolan Sinn Féin

I thank the Minister for that update. Will he also confirm whether any progress has been made on the British Government honouring their responsibilities to help fund the victims' pension?

Photo of Paul Givan Paul Givan DUP

Given that that is a financial matter, the Finance Minister has been leading on it on behalf of the Executive. He continues to engage with the Treasury and make the case for contributions to be made from there, as a result of the outworkings of the scheme. Undoubtedly, the changes made the scope of the scheme much wider than had been initially envisaged. I do not disagree with that decision. Decisions were taken by the Secretary of State and passed by Westminster, and that has enlarged the scope of the scheme. It is right that London makes a contribution towards making those payments. I welcome the court ruling that made it clear that payments need to be made to victims. That money is being paid and will continue to be paid, in line with that ruling.

Photo of Diane Dodds Diane Dodds DUP

Last week, the Victims and Survivors Service published a survey of victims' attitudes. Some 88% percent said that it is important to address the legacy of the Troubles and 70% said that they are opposed to the central plank of the Secretary of State's proposal, the statute of limitations.

However, in addressing the legacy of the Troubles, will the First Minister agree that it is also extremely important to ensure that the Republic of Ireland addresses its legacy of the past, particularly the allegations of collusion between Garda forces and the Provisional IRA?

Photo of Paul Givan Paul Givan DUP 2:15, 11 October 2021

The Member raises a very important point, one that, I know, she has campaigned on for many years and on which she recently led a debate in the Assembly. It is right that, in providing access to truth for victims, the Republic of Ireland Government need to ensure that information that they hold — information that has been sought by victims and their families — should be provided. Indeed, we have had evidence, not least in the Smithwick tribunal, that spoke of the collusion that took place between gardaí and the Provisional IRA in those incidences. The Republic of Ireland are not bystanders when it comes to dealing with the past. There are very much people who were engaged in it and who need to provide information to the victims who require it.

Photo of Colin McGrath Colin McGrath Social Democratic and Labour Party

If the person takes up their post in January, that will have been 16 months since there was last a person in place. Will you agree that you owe an apology to the victims and survivors sector for leaving them so long without a voice?

Photo of Paul Givan Paul Givan DUP

What is critical is that the functions of the office have continued to be discharged. We have a process now in place to fill the vacancy that has been there, but, in the absence of having a Victims' Commissioner in place, important work has continued to be developed. It is vital that victims get that support. I am pleased that we have now been able to provide support through the payments. I will update the House on that: by 10 October, 691 applications had been received. Whilst I accept that there has been an absence of a Victims' Commissioner, that in no way has prevented the functions of that office from carrying on.

Photo of Mike Nesbitt Mike Nesbitt UUP

I put it to the First Minister that there is one function that has not been able to carry on because of the absence of a Victims' Commissioner, and that is with regard to appointments to the Victims and Survivors Forum.

Photo of Paul Givan Paul Givan DUP

The Member will know more than most about the important work of the forum. Appointments can be made only by a commissioner. Under previous commissioners, an action plan had been established for the replenishment exercise to take place. That could be used, if it is acceptable to the new commissioner. Obviously, that will be an issue that the commissioner, on appointment, will want to take forward.