Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
The intention, as part of the overall review, was to significantly refurbish and extend Bishop Street courthouse, which would allow us to provide modern facilities, such as the space to separate witnesses and defendants, on-site without losing the asset. That is still possible, but my challenge is that there is no…
I appreciate the update from the Minister on the consultation and a decision in the coming weeks. Minister, how can you ensure that access to justice is protected in any future reforms, particularly in progressing the grade A listed building at Bishop Street courthouse in Derry?
The Member raises probably the key point in all of it. All Members are aware of the adequacy of our courts estate. Many of the buildings are listed buildings and historic buildings. Many of them are beautiful buildings, but they are not fit for current court business or for organising court business in the way that we…
I thank the Minister for that response. Will she assure me that Limavady courthouse will not be allowed to fall into a poor state of repair while the future of the facility is resolved?
The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service has recently completed a public consultation on a proposal for the permanent closure and disposal of Limavady courthouse. The consultation paper and associated impact assessment documents are available on the departmental website. Thirty responses were received during…
The issues to which the Member refers do not all lie with the Department of Justice. Issues such as addiction services are the responsibility not of the Department of Justice but of the Department of Health. Many of those issues are to do with accommodation, housing and social ills that we are dealing with. We take…
I have a listed question, but we are unlikely to get to it. It relates to neighbourhood policing and associated statutory work including by the probation service in inner South Belfast, around Botanic Avenue and the Holylands, where there are vulnerable communities, antisocial behaviour and people with addiction…
Again, it is not for me to carry out that assessment, but I can say that it required mutual aid. That mutual aid has had to be called on again in respect of the threat of disorder in Garvaghy Road. As a result, we will face bills. I can say with confidence that, last year, disorder of that nature cost us £5 million. I…
My strategic priority is to support the recovery and stabilisation of the workforce by enabling the PSNI to recruit, retain and develop high-quality officers, while protecting morale, well-being and operational resilience. Indeed, last week, at an event organised by the PSNI about dealing with misogyny, sexism and…
I will answer it openly and honestly. Yes, that would have an impact on policing. When such things occur, and there is the potential for disorder on the streets or conflict, the police are put in the invidious position of having to hold the thin green line between violence and peace. Their first priority is always to…
I expected that response. I am sure that the Minister will agree that neighbourhood policing is vital and that it provides a reassuring presence in all our communities in Northern Ireland. Given the fact that numbers are less than optimal, does the Minister believe that if Sinn Féin, the SDLP and others were to…
The resourcing and deployment of neighbourhood policing teams are operational matters for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting that operational independence and the role of the board in holding him to account. The Member may therefore wish to…
First, as the Member is aware, having spoken to the family, I found it really useful to understand, for example, the trauma that has been caused, particularly to Mr Kelly's youngest children, who were not aware of the circumstances of his death. That has had to be explained to them; an appalling thing for any parent…
Thanks to the Minister especially for agreeing to meet the Kelly family and for coming to Derry to do so last week. I know that they appreciated that. Will the Minister tell the House how useful she found that meeting to be and how it might inform her actions going forward?
As you are aware, the two brothers are held separately because we believe them to be a bad influence on each other. Therefore, we believe that their being held separately is the appropriate way forward. It is of profound regret that, despite the fact that an intelligence-led operation in Magilligan last Tuesday…
Minister, you have kept us well informed. I have no real issues with that. However, because of the huge media interest in the matter of Gary Anderson, were any precautions put in place with Sean Anderson that would have been able to stop him accessing a mobile phone, getting on the internet and going on to TikTok? It…
The Northern Ireland Prison Service presented Gary Anderson to Londonderry courthouse on Monday morning. There, after having the conditions of his compassionate temporary release read to him by Prison Service staff, he was passed to his court-appointed chaperone. At 11.20 am on Monday, it was advised by the PSNI that…
I thank the Member for what is a supplementary to the original question. I am more than happy to answer questions that are genuine supplementaries. When it comes to the issue of lessons learned, there was, of course, an immediate review of those proceedings. We have established the timeline and a number of…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I was certainly not challenging you; I was challenging the Justice Minister's non-answer. We already know that there was a lack of communication between the Department's legal team and the Prison Service. It seems that the standard operating procedures had failed in this case, meaning…