Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

50 The memorialisation strategy

(1) The designated persons must secure that—

(a) a study of relevant memorialisation activities that are being carried out immediately before the specified day (“current memorialisation activities”) is undertaken;

(b) recommendations about the initiation and carrying out of relevant memorialisation activities (“new memorialisation activities”) are made;

(c) a report (a “memorialisation strategy”) which sets out—

(i) the findings of the study, and

(ii) the recommendations,

is produced and published within the initial period;

(d) a copy of the memorialisation strategy is given to the Secretary of State as soon as practicable after it is produced.

(2) A “relevant memorialisation activity” is an activity that is carried out in Northern Ireland for the purpose of marking, commemorating, or providing information or education about—

(a) events and conduct that formed part of the Troubles and occurred in Northern Ireland, or

(b) events and conduct before or after the Troubles that occurred in Northern Ireland,

(whether or not it also relates to any other events and conduct that formed part of the Troubles or any other events and conduct before or after the Troubles).

(3) It is for the designated persons to decide whether, and to what extent, the study and recommendations should cover relevant memorialisation activities that relate to events and conduct before or after the Troubles.

(4) The process by which the study is carried out and the recommendations are made must provide for consideration to be given to the following matters—

(a) how relevant memorialisation activities currently, or will in the future, promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland;

(b) how relevant memorialisation activities currently are, or will in the future be, relevant to people living in Northern Ireland;

(c) appropriate non-UK memorialisation activities.

(5) In particular, consideration must be given to whether the establishment of a new museum, memorial or similar project should be recommended.

(6) The process by which the study is carried out and the recommendations are made must enable the public and other interested persons to contribute to the process.

(7) In particular, the process must include opportunities for the public and other interested persons—

(a) to suggest current memorialisation activities that should form part of the study;

(b) to comment on current memorialisation activities;

(c) to suggest new memorialisation activities.

(8) In this section “appropriate non-UK memorialisation activity” means an activity—

(a) which is undertaken outside the United Kingdom to mark, commemorate, or provide information or education about past events or conduct, and

(b) which appears to the designated persons to be appropriate to consider in carrying out the study and making the recommendations.