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| Kathryn Stone: Pension for Troubles victims needed 'immediately' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A pension for those severely injured during the Troubles should be implemented immediately, the NI Victims Commissioner has said. | A pension for those severely injured during the Troubles should be implemented immediately, the NI Victims Commissioner has said. |
| Kathryn Stone made the recommendation following the publication of an advice paper on dealing with the past. | Kathryn Stone made the recommendation following the publication of an advice paper on dealing with the past. |
| The first and deputy first ministers have had the paper since 28 March. | The first and deputy first ministers have had the paper since 28 March. |
| It makes four recommendations, including a pension and arrangements for official apologies to all victims. | It makes four recommendations, including a pension and arrangements for official apologies to all victims. |
| A spokesperson for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister said: "We are currently considering the commissioner's advice." | A spokesperson for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister said: "We are currently considering the commissioner's advice." |
| Ms Stone said the proposals "represent real and practical actions that will meet the needs of victims and survivors". | Ms Stone said the proposals "represent real and practical actions that will meet the needs of victims and survivors". |
| Consultation | Consultation |
| She added: "I am recommending that action be taken immediately to implement the pension and an acknowledgement unit that will provide official apologies to victims and survivors who have never had any formal recognition of their pain and suffering." | She added: "I am recommending that action be taken immediately to implement the pension and an acknowledgement unit that will provide official apologies to victims and survivors who have never had any formal recognition of their pain and suffering." |
| The paper is the result of two years of consultation with victims groups and individuals. | The paper is the result of two years of consultation with victims groups and individuals. |
| It also took into account a major conference in February that featured the largest ever representation of victims. | It also took into account a major conference in February that featured the largest ever representation of victims. |
| As well as a pension and official apologies, the paper proposes the formation of an Information Retrieval Commission and a Historical Investigations Unit. | As well as a pension and official apologies, the paper proposes the formation of an Information Retrieval Commission and a Historical Investigations Unit. |
| Political will | Political will |
| These ideas are broadly similar to recommendations in the stalled Haass proposals. | These ideas are broadly similar to recommendations in the stalled Haass proposals. |
| Ms Stone said the original Haass proposals were "fundamentally informed by the commission's detailed presentations to the Haass team". | Ms Stone said the original Haass proposals were "fundamentally informed by the commission's detailed presentations to the Haass team". |
| She added: "We cannot wait any longer to answer the call for action from victims and survivors. | She added: "We cannot wait any longer to answer the call for action from victims and survivors. |
| "I believe there is the political will to meet the needs of victims and survivors, that needs to be translated into action and that action must be now." | "I believe there is the political will to meet the needs of victims and survivors, that needs to be translated into action and that action must be now." |
| Ms Stone is set to leave her role as victims commissioner at the end of June. | Ms Stone is set to leave her role as victims commissioner at the end of June. |