Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent) (Lab)

My Lords, I will respond to the regret Motion tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady O’Loan, regarding the scope of the proposed draft remedial order which addresses various incompatibilities found by the Northern Ireland courts in respect of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. I acknowledge and welcome the sincerity of her concerns, and the importance of ensuring that future mechanisms for addressing Northern Ireland’s legacy issues fully comply with our human rights obligations and are capable of commanding public confidence. Before I move on to the substance of the debate, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions. There is no more emotive or long-standing issue for us to discuss in your Lordships’ House than the legacy of the Troubles, and the real and tangible impact that this has had on too many families. I put on record my sincere thanks to everybody present who has worked tirelessly to try to deliver a level of peace and justice for those affected by the brutal and horrific acts of terror perpetuated during one of the most painful periods of British history. I want to especially thank the noble Lord, Lord McCrea, for his contribution this evening. His speech demonstrated for me the sheer scale of the trauma of the Troubles, and the reality of the horror and evil of paramilitary terrorism. Last week, I had the honour of spending some time in Northern Ireland, meeting some of the groups that work with and support those affected by the Troubles. I am in awe of the people I met; their determination was inspiring and their stories were devastating. I thank each and every one of them—people who were prepared to share the terrible traumas that they experienced during the Troubles, including in the line of duty. I cannot comprehend the scale of the pain they continue to experience, and it is something that I will always remember.