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ICRIR releases polling and focus group results  

Published:

Listening to and learning from the views of people across Northern Ireland and Great Britain will continue to be fundamental in shaping the ICRIR’s strategy according to its Chief Commissioner Sir Declan Morgan. 

The Chief Commissioner spoke as the ICRIR published independent polling and focus group data, in addition to survey results carried out over the last year. 

The focus groups discussed different aspects of the emerging Commission’s work from how to best support victims and survivors through its process to the development of findings and reports at the end of the journey. The Commission then conducted a full public consultation leading to the launch of its Operational Design Framework on Wednesday 10 July. 

Over the course of the summer the Commission expects to publish more information about how it will continue to listen, adapt and improve services to victims and survivors throughout its lifetime.  

The Survey Summary also draws attention to independent polling that the Commission first conducted in November 2023 and repeated again in March 2024.  

 
Key results include: 

  • Around 4 out of 5 people in Northern Ireland having some knowledge of the Commission’s work and that awareness of ICRIR is growing. 
  • The approach of the Commission to use Case Support Workers in engaging with victims and information holders is supported by a majority of respondents in Northern Ireland (55%). 
  • While 63% of respondents in Northern Ireland believe that the Commission is unlikely to achieve its goal of achieving reconciliation, around 85% still believe reconciliation is needed in Northern Ireland. 

Sir Declan Morgan noted that the polling revealed substantial support (over 70% of respondents) for compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights, one of ICRIR’s guiding principles.  

Earlier this week the Sir Declan met with officials at the UN (Commission Presents Operational Design Framework to United Nations Human Rights Office Officials) to provide an overview of the work of the Commission and restate his and the Commission’s commitment to delivering human rights compliant investigations for victims, survivors and families of the Troubles/Conflict. 

Chief Commissioner Sir Declan Morgan said:    

“The Commission is working hard, through a range of ways, to give people the opportunity to have their views known on areas of the Commission’s work. And the input we have had so far has helped to shape what we do. 

“With the Government’s clarity about repeal of conditional immunity and confirmation that the Commission will continue, it is now on us to demonstrate that our approach can deliver results to victims, families and survivors. It is all the more important that we continue to involve all in our work to improve the Commission and the data we’ve set out today shows there are a range of views for us to consider on important issues including our independence.” 

The full results from the polling, focus group activity and survey can be found on our website here: Document library – Independent Commission for Reconciliation & Information Recovery (icrir.independent-inquiry.uk) 

  

Notes to Editors   
  

  • The following dedicated telephone line, operated by trained staff, and other contact routes is now available for all those who wish to request an investigation:     
  • Telephone: 028 9036 2093    
  • Email: Casesupport@icrir.independent-inquiry.uk    
  • Post: ICRIR, FREEPOST    
      
  • Telephone lines are open between 10:00 and 16:00, Monday to Friday (apart from public holidays).   
     
  • The full Operational Design Framework and consultation response documents can be found on the ICRIR website here.  
     
  • On 22 April 2024, the Commission published its annual workplan that sets out budgets and deliverable outputs for the Financial Year 2024/25. More information can be found on the Documents section of our website.   
      
  • On 25 April 2024, the Commission set out Enhanced Inquisitorial Proceedings which will continue investigations into the deaths resulting from the Troubles/Conflict in Northern Ireland, which were subject to Advanced stage Inquests and not able to conclude before 1 May. More information can be found here: ICRIR sets out Enhanced Inquisitorial Proceedings and transitional measures for completing inquests at advanced stage – Independent Commission for Reconciliation & Information Recovery   
      
  • The Commission has run a variety of public consultation exercises to ensure people have the chance to input to its operational processes. Details of those consultations are provided on the the Commission’s website, and the results will be published in due course.   
      
  • Anyone who would like to get involved in the Commission’s work to define its processes and principles can also email us at our Contact page to be added to our mailing list for updates.