Debate contribution: Prisons: Smoking
Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on .
- MLA
- Mrs Naomi Long
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 28 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Prisons: Smoking
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5762172
Read the official Assembly record
Text
If my first answer was unacceptable, that will come as a surprise to no one, because nothing ever seems to be acceptable to Mr Burrows. It also appears that, despite what he says, Mr Burrows has no concept of working in a prison environment. Prisons are often volatile and challenging places in which a whole mix of conditions are managed. How some people's reliance on smoking — that particular addiction — is managed can be critical to maintaining the safety and stability of our prisons. We need to proceed with caution, not undue haste. I have initiated the work. I cannot speak to what happened 10 years ago — I was not here — but I can speak to the here and now. I hope that the proof of concept and the work that we are investing in to offer prisoners cessation support will be helpful. I would prefer there to be no smoking. In fact, as a city councillor, I was one of the first politicians in Northern Ireland to support a smoke-free environment. I was berated by some of the Member's now colleagues for being unrealistic for thinking that that should apply to people in bin lorries as well as to people in offices.
206 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.