Comhar Policy Bulletin Winter 2025/26
Legacy ActIn October 2025, a new bill was introduced in the British parliament to replace the controversial 2023 Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.
The so-called Legacy Act had been widely opposed and criticised for stopping and heavily restricting coronial inquests, conflict-related civil actions and police investigations into legacy cases linked to the conflict in Northern Ireland. The body it replaced these with – the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) – did not gain the confidence of victims and families and its lack of independence from government was seen by human rights organisations as contravening Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The new bill fulfils the Labour government’s pledge to ‘repeal and replace’ the Legacy Act. The ICRIR will be replaced with a Legacy Commission, the ban on inquests and civil court proceedings will be lifted and amnesty scheme repealed. A new joint framework was launched between the British and Irish governments in September 2025. This was welcomed by Tánaiste Simon Harris as a ‘return to partnership’ on Northern Ireland.
As the legislation works its way through parliament, we will monitor progress made on specific details including the Legacy Commission’s independence from government, compliancy with international human rights law, and how information disclosure and retrieval will function.
Meeting with IOPC
We met with the Independent Office for Police Conduct in the autumn and we discussed concerns around policing relating to the incident in Manchester last winter when teenagers from the Traveller community were blocked from attending the Christmas market. We also expressed concerns around the policing of protests and mass arrests over the past six months. We shared research and information on the Irish community in Britain and the work of our member organisations. The IOPC would be happy to facilitate a feedback session for member organisations, so please do get in contact if this might be of interest.
 Philomena’s Law
Irish in Britain continues to make representations to government departments on behalf of survivors of Ireland’s Mother and Baby Homes currently living in Britain.
In September, our Policy and Research Manager Rosa spoke at a Labour Party conference fringe meeting alongside Liam Conlon MP and actor Siobhan McSweeney on Philomena’s Law.
We have also engaged with The Executive Office in Northern Ireland as it draws together legislation for the upcoming Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses payment scheme. We made representations to the British government to ensure that survivors applying to this scheme do not lose their ability to claim means-tested benefits and social care support. Global Irish Civic Forum 2026The 4th Global Irish Civic Forum will take place in Croke Park, Dublin on 30 April and 1 May 2026. The Irish government is currently undertaking a broad consultation on its new diaspora strategy which will be launched at the Forum. It will be attended by invited representatives of Irish community organisations based overseas. Further details can be found here: Minister Richmond announces details of the 4th Global Irish Civic Forum
Response by charity sector to rise in racial abuse and social division Equally Ours
We joined with 160 civil society leaders calling on the British government to take concrete steps to combat division and hate as charity and community groups face unprecedented racial abuse, intimidation and threats of violence.
You can find the letter and press release here, and corresponding Guardian article here. National Council for Voluntary Organisations reportOn a similar theme, the NCVO has produced the report Challenges Facing Charities in Divided Times. The report follows a series of listening sessions by the organisation in response to a sharp rise in extremism, social division and hostility facing the charity sector.
You can read the report here: Charities facing mission-limiting hostility, fear and intimidation | NCVO
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