80% of the adult population in Northern Ireland believe that both the UK and Irish Governments should work together to address the legacy of our troubled past. That was a key finding contained in a Northern Ireland population survey report published by the Commission for Victims and Survivors (CVS) today.   

Working with YouGov, the Commission carried out a poll of the adult population in Northern Ireland (NI) following similar surveys conducted in Great Britain (GB) in 2024, in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) in 2023, and an earlier Northern Ireland (NI) survey in 2021.

The collection of reports has provided the data sets measuring population impact and views on Troubles/conflict-related issues across the NI, GB and ROI jurisdictions conducted under the Strategy for Victims and Survivors 2024-2034.

This survey shows that a significant proportion of the NI population can still identify as a victim and/or survivor of the Troubles while many indicated that their mental health continues to be affected by their traumatic conflict-related experiences.

Just under one in five adults (19%) in NI continue to meet the legal definition of being a victim and/or survivor of the Troubles/conflict.  In another CVS survey conducted in Great Britain (GB) last year, 8% of the population said they could meet the definition of a victim and/or survivor of the Troubles/conflict while in a 2023 CVS survey in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) the figure was 10% of the population there. These findings highlight the continued reach of the Troubles legacy across these islands almost 30 years after the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

During the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, the UK Government brought forward its Legacy Bill that became law in September 2023. The election of a new Labour government at Westminster last year delivered a renewed commitment to ‘repeal and replace’ the Legacy Act.

Speaking to this, Victims and Survivors Forum member, Natasha Butler said:

“Since it was first introduced as draft legislation, the Forum, along with many others spoke openly of our opposition to the Legacy Act. However, the fact remains that it has established an ICRIR (Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery) which is up and running, therefore, all governments and those representing victims and survivors must ensure that those engaging with it are supported and can achieve the best outcomes possible within its framework.

“Whilst we welcome the repeal of the legislation, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has indicated that this complex process is a timely one. This survey indicates that victims and survivors do not have the luxury of time, and so cross-governmental cooperation for all legacy issues is needed if we are to limit the numbers of future generations who will be left taking these cases forward.”

Inter-Governmental Cooperation

The new UK Government has sought to restore stronger bi-lateral relations with the Irish Government in addressing the past which has been a popular decision with those who responded to the survey. A large majority of the local population here support cooperation between the two governments in addressing the legacy of the Troubles/conflict.     

Meanwhile, 73% of the adult population here support the implementation of a strategic action plan by the Irish Government to address conflict legacy on both sides of the border. On a related legacy issue, 6 in 10 adults in Northern Ireland support the establishment of another way to retrieve information for victims and survivors from former paramilitaries or former members of the security forces.  

Going Forward

On the question focussing on the future, 65% said they felt very/quite hopeful in terms of maintaining a peaceful, stable society here in the decade ahead. Importantly, however, 94% of adults living in NI, many of whom will have lived through the decades of the Troubles acknowledged the presence of significant barriers to societal reconciliation including continued sectarianism, paramilitary activity, potential political instability, and the lack of political leadership.

Speaking to the appointment of a new Victims Commissioner in the period ahead the Commission’s Chief Executive, Andrew Sloan, commented:

“For a new Commissioner coming in, access to this important survey data, our other high quality research outputs in recent years combined with the lived experiences of victims and survivors will assist them in determining their key priorities.

“These survey findings not only highlight the enduring impact of the Troubles/conflict, but also the resilience of those most affected. While there is clear hope for a better future, the public here recognises the continued existence of significant barriers to making meaningful progress related to societal reconciliation. The Commission remains deeply committed to championing the needs of victims and survivors and supporting meaningful progress on the broad range of issues affecting them.

”The NI Population Survey report can be found here on our website: Commission for Victims and Survivors: Population Survey Northern Ireland

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