All of Mrs Naomi Long’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
It is important that we all take every possible opportunity to ensure that policing and justice are properly funded. I have the dual duty of ensuring that not only is policing properly funded but so too is the remainder of the justice system. There is no point in funding one at the expense of the other. That will not…
Not very well. That would be the best way to describe it. In measuring need, they looked at the allocation that was made to the Department in 2017-18. By then, the ring-fencing of the Department's finances that had existed from 2010-14 had been removed and there had been a bit of a raid, I suppose, on the Department's…
My Department currently faces stabilisation pressures of £48 million. That projected potential overspend was reported to the Department of Finance as part of the recent in-year exercise. In addition, the Department faces exceptional pressures of £227 million in relation to legal claims for McCloud injury to feelings,…
First, I proposed that the Executive Office take forward the ending violence against women and girls strategy. It is not just a matter for Justice or policing; it is a matter for the whole Executive. Every Department has a role to play, whether that be Health, Education, Economy or Communities. We all have a role to…
That was a cross-departmental bid by the Department of Justice — it bid for the justice elements — and TEO. We will still have to deliver on the ending violence against women and girls framework. Obviously, significant parts of that will fall to my Department. However, the most important parts of that are now around…
First, I commend Dr Swaine and Foyle Women's Aid for the important research that was produced on the topic of paramilitary-related gendered coercive control. I was pleased to be at the launch of that report to signal my clear support for the work that is being done on the subject. The research was timely and…
All types of violence are linked, and we know that there is still much to do to support women who face paramilitary harm. It is completely and unequivocally unacceptable. At ministerial and official level, we are in close and regular contact with those delivering the ending violence against women and girls strategy…
Review of Northern Ireland Civil Service HR would be a matter for the Department of Finance, not the Department of Justice. However, I have done work to try to add support for prison officers. For example, serving and former officers now have the opportunity to avail themselves of the Police Rehabilitation and…
I have learned in this job never to say, "Never", but, at the moment, we are not in that situation. We currently have adequate capacity in our prisons for prisoners to serve the entirety of their sentence. We also have adequate staff, so we are not in an overcrowded situation. However, I am conscious that the numbers…
The Prison Service requires the resources that it needs to keep people who live and work in prisons safe and secure and to support the rehabilitation and resettlement into the community of people in its care. Earlier this year, the Prison Service reviewed its operational staffing levels due to the significant and…
The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) (No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 That the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) (No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank Mrs Erskine, who tabled the Adjournment topic, and all those who participated in the debate. Unfortunately, due to an inescapable diary clash, my colleague Minister Muir is not available to respond today, so I undertook to do so on his behalf. It may seem slightly strange, but I…
I beg to introduce the Justice Bill [NIA 07/22-27], which is a Bill to amend the law about the retention and destruction of fingerprints and DNA profiles under Part 6 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989; to amend the law about the release of children on bail and about their detention; to…
That is factually inaccurate. Before I signed off on the Budget, I engaged with all the arm's-length bodies of my Department and made it clear that they were likely to face significant pressures. Had I not signed off on the Budget or had we supported the only call that came from the Ulster Unionists, which was to…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I am grateful to be able to address these issues in the House today. As other Members have mentioned, it is Emergency Services Day, or 999 Day as it is, perhaps, better known. I begin by paying tribute to every officer and member of staff who works for the PSNI. From first…
There are a number of strands, so perhaps it is best, given the restricted time, that I write to the Member. There is a security for mosques scheme that the Government run, which is available to Northern Ireland. There is also the Community Security Trust, which deals with synagogues. We do not have a scheme that is…
To be clear, your colleague, who is now the Health Minister, supported this on the Policing Board during his tenure there and was content with the approach that was being taken. There is no doubt in my mind. At no time have I sought to influence the Chief Constable on operational matters. In fact, I am regularly…