All of Ms Sian Mulholland’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I will be honest with the Member: this is not a black-and-white or easy subject. The Chairperson of the Committee and I have had a discussion about how it is difficult. It is a really emotive issue, particularly when you or someone you love has been harmed. As the mummy of three children, I get that the most primal…
I covered at the beginning the conversations that we have had about victims. I reiterate that it does not take away any agency from victims. I have met Victim Support NI, the Victims' Commissioner, victim groups and individual victims, but I have also met young people who are both victims and perpetrators. I have…
I will continue on this point, and then I will come back to the Member. Taken together — the Minister has just spoken about a lot of this — the evidence tells us three things. First, prosecution is already not the dominant response, and the system already relies heavily on diversion. We need the law to catch up and…
The point that I have made continually when I have been asked questions similar to that is that, yes, diversionary work is already being engaged in, but it is not consistent. The law has to catch up with what, the experts who do that brilliant diversionary work say, they need. They need that protection and the law to…
That leads me to a great example that I witnessed. I went to the Western Trust area to visit one of the areas in Derry/Londonderry that, I suggest, is probably best known on the news for some of that activity and particularly for young people being drawn into violence. The family response service supports families at…
It is almost as if the Minister and I are synchronised or that we believe some very similar things, because that leads me right on to the recent Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) report on child criminal exploitation. It should be required reading for every single Member of the House who is involved…
Thank you very much. I referenced some of the points that were made, and I will reference the final point later in my speech. I will address the idea that the minimum age of criminal responsibility's being raised is somehow a fringe, soft, lefty ideological proposal — I am looking at the other Member for North Antrim…
No problem. On the basis of decorum, I believe that I have carried out my engagement with all Members on this topic with respect, but Mr McGlone, Ms Sheerin and I have been told that we are not fit to legislate because we have tabled amendments. That has to be addressed. Perhaps the Member will apologise to Ms…
Absolutely. I spoke to the Youth Justice Agency just after the delegation from Chicago was here. It just goes to show that our system is internationally recognised. The one thing that I heard from them was that we do so much that we need the law to catch up.
I agree. That brings me to my section about victims. Any reform that does not take victims seriously will fail. That is why the reform needs to be victim-centred. It is not about choosing children over victims but about recognising that, if our current response does not reduce future harm, it is not serving victims…
I beg to move amendment No 79: I begin by recognising the seriousness and importance of what we are debating today. Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) is about whether our response makes further harm more likely or less likely. That is at the heart of the debate. When it came to tabling my…
Enabling a programme such as Right to Try will depend on employers being able to provide opportunities. What discussions have you had with the Minister for the Economy to ensure that employers are ready and willing to provide such opportunities?
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the progress of their Department becoming the sponsor of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), in line with the recommendation in the Tailored Review of NICCY, commissioned by the Department for Communities…
I will not try to pronounce the phrase, because Emma has confused me about how I was going to pronounce it. Does the Minister agree that reintroducing that framework would be a backward step, because we would end up with 10-to-13-year-olds still being open to arrest and prosecution rather than being diverted away from…
This week marks Carers' Week 2026. This year's theme is "Building Carer-friendly Communities", and it could not be more timely. Across our communities, thousands of people care every day for someone, often quietly, often without recognition and, far too often, without the support that they need. Therefore, Carers'…