AQO 3277/22-27 Oral question to the Assembly Commission
To ask the Assembly Commission to outline any feedback it has received following the unveiling of a memorial plaque at Parliament Buildings to victims and survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse.
Asked by Peter McReynolds MLA on 26 February 2026
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 26 February 2026
- Answer due by
- 10 March 2026
- Answered
- 10 March 202612 days after tabling
- Department
- Northern Ireland Assembly Commission
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 10 March 2026. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Miss McAllister
I thank the Member for his question. As you are aware, the Speaker hosted an event in the Great Hall on 20 February in conjunction with the First Minister and the deputy First Minister to unveil a memorial to victims of historical institutional abuse. The Assembly Commission was proud to play its part in working in partnership with the Executive Office over the past few years to see the memorial finally delivered. A number of Members who sit on the Executive Office Committee and other Members from across the House attended the unveiling. Extremely positive feedback has been received since the event. I am pleased to report that a number of thank yous to staff have been received, including from people who travelled a long distance to see the unveiling, in recognition of how well looked after they were on the day. The event had to be handled extremely sensitively to respect the victims and survivors, who live with the legacy of extremely traumatic experiences. It was important that they were treated with dignity. I am sure that the whole House will join me in thanking all the Assembly Commission and Executive Office officials who worked to deliver an event that was personally meaningful to all who attended it.
Mr McReynolds
I thank the Member for her response. I am one of the Members who were there, and it was fitting that victims and survivors were front and centre that afternoon. Do you agree that the plaque is a good example of the importance of listening to victims and survivors?
Miss McAllister
Yes, absolutely. The Commission was clear that it wanted to proceed with the memorial only on the basis of the widest possible agreement with victims and survivors. Whilst there is not one view on the issues among the victims and survivors, the engagement that took place with them to get to this point has been extremely important. Their views and feelings were an absolute priority.