Debate contribution: Justice Bill: Consideration Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Doug Beattie MC on .
- MLA
- Mr Doug Beattie MC
- Party at the time
- Independent
- Date
- 16 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Justice Bill: Consideration Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5624820
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Just a minute. Minister, I guess that I disagree with you, because I too did my work. I accept that I do not have the resources that you and your Department have, but I sat with the Public Prosecution Service and talked through this very thing, and it said that it was workable. I sat with the PSNI and talked through this thing, and it said that it was workable. I sat with the Youth Justice Agency and talked through this thing, and it said that it was workable. It is not easy and it needs development — you are absolutely right — but I think that there is a compromise that will help us raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 while, at the same time, still supporting the victims. If I have mischaracterised something that you said yesterday, Minister, then I just misheard it. I will accept that.
154 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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