Stop dithering over compensating Northern Ireland abuse victims, ministers told

By George Ryan and Richard Wheeler, Political Staff24th July 2019News Northern IrelandChild Abuse, Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, News Northern Ireland, Non-Recent / Historic Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Victim Support

Ministers have been told to stop “dithering” after they ruled out fast-tracking legislation to provide compensation to historical abuse survivors in Northern Ireland before the summer recess.

Northern Ireland minister John Penrose (pictured) said the draft Historical Abuse Bill needs to be dealt with carefully and is still being worked on.

In the face of DUP calls to introduce the legislation on Wednesday and approve it on Thursday before Westminster breaks for the summer, Mr Penrose said he expects the incoming administration to take it forward “at pace” – by the end of the year, at the latest.

Speaking in the Commons, Independent MP Lady Hermon (North Down) said: “I have to say quite clearly to the Government minister that the dithering, procrastination and the excuses around the delays in compensating the victims of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland have been absolutely shameful.

“The dithering must stop.”

Asking an urgent question, DUP MP Ian Paisley (North Antrim) earlier said: “I do not doubt the sincerity of this minister of state, and the Secretary of State, or indeed the team they have in the Northern Ireland Office, but there can be no further delay.

“There is nothing to prevent this legislation being introduced this evening, being voted on tomorrow and this matter resolved before we go into recess. If the will is there this can be done.”

Mr Penrose replied: “This is an important issue that has not been properly debated yet in a legislature. It will need primary legislation in order to be taken through.

“It is something which is new and needs to be dealt with carefully. I’m afraid I therefore can’t tell him that the Bill is ready to go today. It arrived with us a couple of days ago.

“It is being gone through in huge detail, there are all sorts of supporting documents and explanatory memorandums and so on which need to be put together. That is being done at pace, I can promise him that.

“It’s something which will need to be taken forward by the incoming administration… but I don’t think there’s any shortage of goodwill, no shortage of energy and there’s also no shortage of cross-party agreement to take this forward.

“I hope we will be able to introduce this legislation at pace, and at the very latest by the end of this year.”