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MLA Culture Wars

Analysis in progress – figures are incomplete

6,863 of 97,616 records that can be analysed have been assessed so far (7.0%); 89,433 are waiting for analysis and 1,320 failed and will be retried. Totals and rankings will change as the remaining records are processed, so they do not yet represent the full mandate. How much has been processed

Mrs Naomi Long: Assembly records

All of Mrs Naomi Long’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.

1,630 records match.

  1. Debate contribution: Prisoners: Absconding while on Compassionate Leave

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    It is not a matter for me. Mr McDonagh, as the Member rightly said, is a remand prisoner. His compassionate bail was granted by the court. The Prison Service had no role in that. He failed to return to custody in HMP Maghaberry. That is not a matter for me or Northern Ireland Prison Service. That was the decision of…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  2. Debate contribution: Abuse Outside Courts

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    Assessing the level of threat and what response is required is an operational matter for the PSNI in each individual case. Many of us in this Chamber have been through that process many times, and it is not for me as Justice Minister to second-guess or interfere with it. I will be clear, however, that there should be…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  3. Debate contribution: Abuse Outside Courts

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    Like the Member, I have seen some of the conduct outside the courts, and I do not think that it is in any way acceptable for people to behave in such an aggressive manner. Many of the people who attend court are there for very highly emotive reasons. Many will be there for issues that will cause them trauma and…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  4. Debate contribution: Prisons: Remand Population

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    The task and finish group is considering prioritising a number of cases for review. For example, it is looking at defendants who could be managed in the community through the use of bail if there were additional controls such as electronic monitoring. It is also looking at reviewing cases where defendants have been on…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  5. Debate contribution: Prisons: Remand Population

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    The scale of our remand population is a serious issue and one of the main drivers of the critical capacity pressures that I referred to earlier. As of 1 October 2026, the total prison population was 2,266, including 1,140 — over 50% — who are being held on remand. That figure has increased by 33% since the beginning…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  6. Debate contribution: Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc.) Bill: Misogyny Aggravator

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    I will always work with the Committee to improve the Bill. People connect emotionally with the idea of putting misogyny in the legislation to send a message. My fear is that, if we have not bottomed out what that looks like from a legal perspective and how the evidence base underpins it, then it is a slightly…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  7. Debate contribution: Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc.) Bill: Misogyny Aggravator

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    I encourage the Member not to feel obliged to add to or change the Bill. If it is OK, you can stick with it. I am looking across at her Committee colleague — he is a culprit in that respect too. You do not have to change it; you can scrutinise what is there and either agree or disagree it. When it comes to misogyny as…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  8. Debate contribution: Prison Service: Risk Management

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    As I said, I have received an interim update from Phil Copple, but it would be best to await the outcome of the review in its totality. Every time this matter is raised in the public domain is distressing to the Kelly family, and I am therefore not keen to give a lot of interim updates. There will be an update…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  9. Debate contribution: Prison Service: Risk Management

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    There are two separate parts to that. The first is about the concerns that have been raised regarding compassionate temporary release. The Member will be aware that I have launched a review of our arrangements for compassionate temporary release. I await the findings of that. I met the reviewer, Phil Copple, last week…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  10. Debate contribution: Sexual Crime: Support for Victims

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    With your indulgence, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I will give a slightly longer answer than I would normally. My Department has led a transformational programme of work to improve support and outcomes for victims of sexual crime. The measures and services introduced so far have brought about real and meaningful…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  11. Debate contribution: Courts: Delayed Cases

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    I thank the Member for his interest in my relationship with the Criminal Bar Association. I was not aware that it had broken down, but he obviously has different sources from mine. I met the Criminal Bar Association, and we agreed a way forward, which I am now implementing. My officials meet it regularly to keep it…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  12. Debate contribution: Courts: Delayed Cases

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    Reducing court delay is a priority for me, my Department and Justice partners. Through the Criminal Justice Board (CJB), the speeding up justice programme is driving reform to move cases through the system more quickly and fairly. Our five priorities are earlier engagement among police, prosecutors and the defence;…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  13. Debate contribution: Public Order: Policing Costs

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    As I said in answer to Mr Chambers, it stands at around £5·5 million, of which around £1·25 million is the mutual aid cost, with the remainder being a mixture of overtime and other expenses. There will, of course, be legal bills and other things that will come in over the coming months, all of which will come out of…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  14. Debate contribution: Public Order: Policing Costs

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    I do not have those figures to hand, but I am aware that, unlike in other parts of the UK, major events still draw police resource. In other parts of the UK, that is either done by civilian contractors or the organisers pay for that work to be done. I know that the police and the Policing Board have been looking at…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  15. Debate contribution: Public Order: Policing Costs

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    I have already taken the opportunity, during previous questions and statements, to make it clear that I believe that unlawful activity and unnotified parades are things that Members of the House should not be engaged in. I also believe that Members should not be engaged in trying to draw me, as Justice Minister, into…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  16. Debate contribution: Public Order: Policing Costs

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    The Member is right. At the moment — the caveat being that it is just at the moment — the costs are around £5·5 million for the policing operation. I would not go as far as to say that I am hopeful that the NIO will make an exception when it comes to the issue, but I will certainly make that case to it, because,…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  17. Debate contribution: Public Order: Policing Costs

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    With your permission, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I wish to answer questions 6 and 9 together. The Chief Constable took the decision to engage mutual aid assistance for the ongoing policing operation at Drumcree, and I support him in that decision. Mutual aid comes at a cost, and that cost is increasing daily. The…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  18. Debate contribution: Courts: Good-character References

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    There are two things to say. Character references are used at two points in the system. The first is during the trial, and any interference with that could prejudice the right to a fair trial. One thing that Sir John Gillen raised in his review of serious sexual offences was the imbalance, in that victims will often…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  19. Debate contribution: Courts: Good-character References

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    One option for reform is to introduce a requirement that good-character references must be provided in the form of an affidavit and that, where evidence is to be given orally before the court, it must be given by oath or affirmation. That is similar to the recent reforms introduced in Ireland. It would serve to…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  20. Debate contribution: Courts: Good-character References

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    You will be aware that, on 8 October, my Department launched its consultation on good-character references at sentencing in criminal proceedings, which will run until Thursday 3 December 2026. If the Department can identify a straightforward legislative approach to introducing reform based on the feedback to that…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  21. Debate contribution: Prisoners: Early Removal Scheme

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    The Northern Ireland Prison Service has established processes in place to ensure that the Home Office is notified of all foreign national offenders who receive a custodial sentence within 10 working days of sentencing. Following notification, responsibility for assessing an individual's immigration status and…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  22. Debate contribution: Prisoners: Early Removal Scheme

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    As I have said, at the moment, there are around 249 foreign national prisoners in our prison system. That figure is a combination of sentenced and remand prisoners; those who are legally resident in Northern Ireland; life-sentence or indeterminate-sentence prisoners; and determinate-sentence prisoners. It is only the…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  23. Debate contribution: Prisoners: Early Removal Scheme

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    The early removal scheme introduced by the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 allows eligible foreign national prisoners who are serving a fixed-term, determinate sentence to be removed from the UK up to 135 days before the end of their requisite custodial period, subject to agreement by the Home Office. The scheme…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  24. Debate contribution: Courts: Trials of the Facts

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    There are a number of things to consider. Tomorrow, we will announce who will undertake the review, and, obviously, they will look at what happens in other jurisdictions to inform their review. I do not want to take positions on that at this point in time, but it is certainly something that will be considered.…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  25. Debate contribution: Courts: Trials of the Facts

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    The review is intended to examine whether the orders available to the courts provide adequate protection for the public. That includes considering whether sex offender notification requirements and other safeguarding measures should apply following findings involving acts that would otherwise constitute serious sexual…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

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