Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00My Lords, in welcoming the noble Baroness to her job, I would tell her that she is going
00:05to be very busy, particularly now as we have lost the sub-committee on the Windsor framework.
00:10Hopefully that might be able to be brought back. I say to her that she must understand
00:15that this will be seen by many people as a kind of hierarchy of victims. Many, many victims,
00:25particularly in rural areas, saw their families destroyed by IRA terrorism. Of course, nothing,
00:32no inquiries, no money, nothing was spent to get to the truth of those. We have to make
00:39sure that everyone feels that they are being treated equally. I would say to the noble
00:46Baroness that we must ensure now that the money that is spent on this is spent in a
00:54way that will ensure that we get to the truth. I think we have already got to the truth.
00:59I see no reason. I see no unique circumstances. I wonder if she could give up again, as was
01:06asked earlier by another noble Lord. What are the unique circumstances? After all the
01:12other inquiries that have gone into this, after all the money that is spent—and of
01:16course I think we all know what the unique circumstances are of this that the Government
01:22are saying, but that will not be something that will satisfy people in Northern Ireland.
01:28I do not understand why, given that we all have confidence in Sir Declan Morgan, that
01:34the Secretary of State made it very clear in his statement why this could not have been
01:40sent to the ICRIC. That should have been where it went to. I believe that this is now
01:47actually sending a message out that the Government really do not believe that Sir Declan Morgan
01:53could handle this case. I think that is very, very sad indeed.
01:57Baroness Blackwood of Trafford
02:01My Lords, I want to make it clear and put on the record that there is no hierarchy of
02:05pain or of justice. Everybody touched by the troubles deserves answers. It is why and
02:12how we engage in legacy that is so important. Yesterday's decision by the Secretary of
02:17State is the fulfilment of our commitments made at Weston Park 23 years ago—many, many
02:25years before the establishment of the commission and the appointment of Sir Declan Morgan.
02:31I am, however, delighted that Sir Declan Morgan has the confidence of the noble Baroness and
02:37look forward to working with her in the months and maybe years ahead, depending on how long
02:42my appointment lasts, as we discuss these issues, I am sure in a great deal of depth.