Mr Murphy was speaking during Northern Ireland Questions

Paul Murphy told the House of Commons on Wednesday that he hoped to make a statement on the matter very shortly.

He was responding to a question from the DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson during Northern Ireland Questions.

The DUP and other unionists have been calling for the creation of a victims' commissioner post for some time.

Mr Murphy said he saw great merit in the arguments for a commissioner.

"The work which has been done by victims' groups up and down Northern Ireland is enormously important in bringing about reconciliation in Northern Ireland," he said.

"I visited Wave not so very long ago and I was deeply impressed by what I saw."

Voice

Mr Donaldson welcomed Mr Murphy's statement, saying the creation of a victims' commissioner had been a key demand of his party during last year's political negotiations.

"The DUP has long held the view that the innocent victims of terrorist violence need an independent voice who can act as a strong advocate on their behalf with government and funders and liaise closely with victims' groups across the province," he said.

"We are, therefore, pleased our efforts with the government have paid off."

The creation of an ombudsman for victims was one of the key recommendations of a government report in 1998.

Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report was commissioned after claims that more had been done for the perpetrators of violence rather than their victims.