What is the Inquiry and Redress Scheme?

The Truth Recovery Public Inquiry

The Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill was introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 16 June 2025 by First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. The legislation establishes a statutory public inquiry with powers equivalent to those under the Inquiries Act 2005 to investigate the systemic failings associated with these institutions.

The Inquiry will examine what happened, why it happened, and who was responsible. It will focus on the period from 1922 to 1995 and will investigate systemic failings by prescribed institutions, public bodies and other persons in:

• The care of relevant persons during their time within prescribed institutions.

• The admission and departure of relevant persons from these institutions.

• The registration, regulation and inspection of the institutions.

• The placement of children for adoption, fostering or other care arrangements.

The institutions currently listed for investigation include Mother and Baby Homes operated by the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Legion of Mary, the Salvation Army and other religious and charitable organisations, as well as Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses. The legislation provides flexibility for additional institutions to be added as evidence emerges.

The Truth Recovery Redress Service

The Bill also establishes the Truth Recovery Redress Service, an independent body that will administer financial payments to eligible persons. The Redress Scheme has two components:

Standardised Payment: An initial payment of £10,000 for eligible victims and survivors, and £2,000 for eligible relatives of deceased persons. This is an acknowledgement payment recognising the impact of admission to these institutions.

Individually Assessed Payment: A further harm-based payment scheme will follow in separate legislation after the Inquiry concludes. This will provide additional compensation based on the specific harm suffered by individuals.

Importantly, redress payments will not affect entitlement to means-tested benefits, Legal Aid or residential care home costs. Receiving a standardised payment will not prevent individuals from pursuing further compensation through other legal avenues.

Legislative Progress

Committee Stage Scrutiny

The Committee for the Executive Office undertook extensive scrutiny of the Bill over a seven-month period. The Committee received 91 written submissions and heard oral evidence from 24 organisations, alongside detailed briefings from departmental officials. In addition to formal evidence sessions, the Committee held stakeholder familiarisation events, roundtable discussions across Northern Ireland, and dedicated sessions for victims and survivors.

The Committee's scrutiny revealed consistent themes from those affected, including:

• A strong desire for truth recovery, comprehensive access to personal and institutional records, and a human rights-based approach.

• Calls for broader scope regarding institutional inclusion, cross-border pathways, and historical practices around forced adoption, infant mortality and burial arrangements.

• Concerns regarding eligibility for redress, particularly the proposed posthumous cut-off date and the adequacy of the £10,000 standardised payment.

• Clear support for survivor participation, including a mandatory advisory panel, multidisciplinary inquiry panel membership, and funded legal representation.

• Strong expectations that institutions responsible for abuse should make financial contributions to the Redress Scheme.

Committee Amendments

On 29 January 2026, the Committee published its Committee Stage Report setting out a series of amendments aimed at strengthening the Bill. Key amendments agreed by the Committee include:

• Requiring publication of the Inquiry's Terms of Reference within six months.

• Amending provisions to ensure explicit inclusion of women who became pregnant while in workhouses.

• Ensuring multidisciplinary membership of the Inquiry Panel.

• Providing for enhanced Assembly scrutiny of key regulations.

• Extending the appeal period for redress decisions from 30 to 90 days.

• Requiring Ministers to publish a scheme for pursuing financial contributions from institutions found to have committed systemic failings.

Removal of the posthumous cut-off date of 29 September 2011

The removal of the posthumous cut-off date was a particularly significant amendment, agreed by six Members against two. This means that relatives of deceased victims will no longer be restricted by an arbitrary date and may be eligible for posthumous payments regardless of when their loved one died.

The Bill will now proceed to Consideration Stage, where MLAs will debate and vote on the clauses and amendments, followed by Further Consideration Stage and Final Stage before potential Royal Assent.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible Persons

Under the current provisions, the following persons may be eligible for a standardised payment:

• Adults who were admitted to a relevant institution between 1922 and 1995 for the primary purpose of receiving shelter or maintenance.

• Children (now adults) who were admitted to a relevant institution during this period.

• Persons who were born while their mother was under the care of a relevant institution, or whose mother was under the care of an institution immediately before their birth.

• Eligible relatives of deceased persons who would have been eligible under the above criteria.

Relevant Institutions

The institutions currently listed in the Bill include:

The legislation provides for additional institutions to be added by regulation following consultation with the Inquiry Chairperson.