Debate contribution: Sentencing: Terrorism Offences
Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on .
- MLA
- Mrs Naomi Long
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 9 March 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Sentencing: Terrorism Offences
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5453283
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Certainly, by talking about the issue in the House and communicating our concerns, we can convey a public sentiment about the importance of dealing with such offences appropriately and ensuring that the sentencing is at an appropriate level. However, ultimately, the judiciary is independent of the Department, and sentencing guidelines will be set by the Lady Chief Justice. Even if we had a Northern Ireland sentencing council, it would not be an area where such a devolved sentencing council or I could enter, because it is not a devolved matter. It would be for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Westminster to bring forward any changes that they wish to make to the overarching guidance on terrorism offences.
120 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.05 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.53 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.05 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.70 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.16 |
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.14 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:05 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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