Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

49 Oral history

(1) The designated persons must secure that—

(a) within the initial period—

(i) a study is carried out of Troubles-related oral history records contained in current collections in Northern Ireland, and

(ii) the current collections are analysed to identify groups and communities in Northern Ireland that are under-represented in the current collections;

(b) Troubles-related oral history records are created, and are collected and preserved in Northern Ireland, especially oral history records which recount the personal experience of persons in groups and communities in Northern Ireland that are under-represented in current collections;

(c) public engagement with Troubles-related oral history records in Northern Ireland is encouraged and facilitated, including by such records becoming more publicly accessible;

(d) a catalogue of publicly accessible Troubles-related oral history records is—

(i) produced and kept up to date, and

(ii) made available on a website which the public can use without charge.

(2) In complying with subsection (1)(b), the designated persons must, in particular, secure that appropriate assistance (including training and resources) is provided to persons with an interest in creating, collecting or preserving Troubles-related oral history records.

(3) In complying with subsection (1)(c), the designated persons must, in particular, secure that events and services intended to encourage and facilitate public engagement with Troubles-related oral history records in Northern Ireland are arranged.

(4) The designated persons may exercise the functions under subsection (1) in relation to oral history records about events and conduct before or after the period of the Troubles; and, if and to the extent that they do so, this section applies to such records as it applies to Troubles-related oral history records.

(5) For the purposes of this section a group or community in Northern Ireland is under-represented in current collections if the oral history records in current collections do not appropriately reflect the prevalence of that group or community in Northern Ireland society during the period of the Troubles.

(6) In this section—

• “current collection” means a collection existing immediately before the specified day;

• “oral history record about events and conduct before or after the period of the Troubles” means a record (in any form) which—

  (a)

  recounts personal experience relating to any of the events and conduct before or after the period of the Troubles, (including any effect which it has had on a person, whenever the effect occurred), and

  (b)

  is of lasting historical significance;

• “period of the Troubles” means the period—

  (a)

  beginning with 1 January 1966, and

  (b)

  ending with 10 April 1998;

• “publicly accessible” means accessible by the public or by a section of the public (including where the access is available by arrangement, on the basis of a subscription or membership, or on payment);

• “Troubles-related oral history record” means a record (in any form) which—

  (a)

  recounts personal experience relating to the Troubles, (including any effect which the Troubles have had on a person, whenever the effect occurred), and

  (b)

  is of lasting historical significance,

  whether the personal experience (or effect) relates to the Troubles generally or to any aspect or aspects of the Troubles.

(7) For the purposes of this section it does not matter whether an oral history record is made by, or received from, a person in the United Kingdom, Ireland or elsewhere.