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<p>This Government has always been very clear in its outright condemnation of any
form of abuse of children. Any tolerance by people in positions of authority of such
activity by others is abhorrent.</p><p> </p><p>The Historical Institutional Abuse
Inquiry was established by the Executive and responsibility for implementing Sir Anthony
Hart’s recommendations falls to the devolved administration. My Right Honourable Friend,
James Brokenshire MP, was very clear that in the absence of an Executive, he would
not interfere in devolved matters in Northern Ireland except to the extent that it
is absolutely necessary to do so in order to allow public administration to continue
and public services to be maintained. Decisions on the direction of devolved public
policy are best taken by the elected representatives of the Northern Ireland population.
It was those representatives who set up the HIA Inquiry and they are best placed to
consider how to implement it.</p><p> </p><p>While Northern Ireland Office Ministers
start work with the Northern Ireland parties on the restoration of the Executive the
above still stands.</p><p> </p><p>Northern Ireland Office Ministers assure you we
understand and recognise the strength of feeling and frustration around the lack of
progress in responding to Sir Anthony's recommendations due to the lack of a functioning
Executive. We acknowledge and welcome the detailed preparatory work being undertaken
by the Executive Office, and are aware David Sterling, Head of the Northern Ireland
Civil Service, has invited victims and survivors to a briefing in relation to this
on 30 January. We would welcome a meeting with victims and survivors after they have
been briefed by David Sterling.</p><p> </p><p>Progressing the implementation of the
Hart recommendations is one of the many reasons we remain determined to get a Northern
Ireland Executive back up and running as soon as possible. We continue to urge the
Northern Ireland parties to seek urgent resolution to restore the Executive.</p><p>
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