Speeches by Robinson.

“Good morning, everyone. Mr McVey, I think the Committee is pleased that you are in post, and that there is a victims commissioner, because on the occasions that we have met the victims commission, there was a vacancy. It is important at this time that victims have a voice and that you can give voice to their concerns. …”

“Should we be in the realm of speculation? This is a genuine question for everyone. We have had 18 months of this Government: 18 months of a promise to repeal and replace; a large launch in September of a joint framework; and now a Legacy Bill—a Northern Ireland Troubles Bill—has been introduced, yet we are speculating.…”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Not by me.”

“It is not. We have legislation before us published in Westminster, which will become law.”

“If you are compiling more evidence—I think you said that you want to do something more detailed in the coming weeks, and that you are going to focus on it again—do you have suggestions for amendments to the Bill, or are you just making your concern known?”

“And how that may conflict with articles 2 and 3. What is your solution, legislative or otherwise, to those concerns?”

“Thank you. Ms Kilpatrick, in your evidence to us, you expressed concerns about the premise of non-repeated investigations.”

“David, before we move on to another panel member, the one thing that applies solely to veterans is that if the Legacy Commission wishes to write to you, you will receive the letter from the MOD. You will get a letter that is going to land negatively, bringing you back to the past, bringing you back to things that you m…”

“We also know that the Government said that the protections will not be limited to legislation. Do you have any hints of how they expect those protections to crystallise outside of the legislative framework? Do you believe there need to be amendments to cater particularly for veterans within the legislative framework?”

“We know that the Bill does not use the word “veteran”.”

“Mr Johnstone, what is your view of the six new protections for veterans, and what is the view of your members? Do you believe it shows the Government clearly listening to veterans, as they say they are? Is that how veterans view these protections?”

“Nobody said that you had.”

“Do you mean disproportionately impacted in suffering the loss of a loved one?”

“Have you had the opportunity to think through the proposed process that would allow families to be consulted about the involvement of officers, and whether, if there is a relational disagreement or they cannot agree formally, that can be escalated to the oversight board? Have you had a chance to talk to victims about t…”

“Perceptions can be based on prejudice. As I think Ms Kilpatrick accepts, there are service personnel who are also victims. Mr McVey, you were not the commissioner for victims whenever the lines were blurred with prejudice and perception and how far people were able to pursue their prejudice to the exclusion of certain …”

“I am happy to. Mr Johnstone, do you believe that the changes from the Secretary of State to ensure that Legacy Commission staff do not have any conflict of interest are right or wrong? Do you believe that the steps to put on a statutory footing the conflict of interest policy that already existed is right or wrong? Do …”

“I disagree with that. I think that that is wrong, but I am not going to continue with it.”

“Two very quick questions, then. Because you believe that you were misrepresented in The Irish News particularly, have you taken steps to address that?”

“No, it goes beyond that, in fairness. I do not think it is worth—”