Debate contribution: Justice Bill: Consideration Stage
Debate contribution by Ms Connie Egan on .
- MLA
- Ms Connie Egan
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 22 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Justice Bill: Consideration Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5639008
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Respect for the rule of law and efficient, competent justice systems are critical for a healthy and shared society. Legal aid plays a fundamental role in ensuring that victims, witnesses and defendants enter into a justice system that delivers both fairly and effectively. We need a justice system where public money is used responsibly, with clear markers that show proportionate value to spend. That is why it gives me deep concern that, as Minister Long set out in her opening remarks, the Assembly has very little oversight of around 25% of legal aid expenditure — approximately £30 million per annum — whereas the other 75% is subject to arrangements that are set out in secondary legislation. On that, Alliance welcomes Naomi Long's amendments to the Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 that clarify that the provisions on remuneration to providers of services under legal aid can apply to anyone. As Minister Long stated, that does not change the current legal position but instead makes the current provisions explicit in their meaning. The current arrangements have also been noted with concern by the Public Accounts Committee, highlighting the lack of Assembly scrutiny over that area of public spend. During Committee Stage, there was much engagement on that issue with interested stakeholders, including those from across the legal profession, and I thank them for their time and feedback, which was noted. I support Minister Long's withdrawal of clause 28, which will enable the retention of a role for the taxing master. Accountability and transparency when it comes to public money and access to justice are vital. The amendments in the group support both objectives, as well as the ambition that I am sure that all of us around the Chamber share, which is to build a justice system that is sustainable in the long term.
304 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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