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.
My Department is exploring legislative proposals on police officer misconduct. Members will be aware that OPONI, in its five-year review, made a number of recommendations, as did the PSNI. I think that there were seven in all on misconduct. Should primary legislative change be required, such legislation may not be…
As a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board's performance committee, I often look at police officer misconduct, for which the professional standards department is responsible. We are aware that there are some issues with the processes. Will the Minister provide an update on her Department's review of the police…
The vetting and employment of police officers is not a matter for the Department of Justice. When you look at the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) report on abuse of position concerns and complaints, however, you see that there are recommendations on how justice organisations should address matters…
I thank the Minister for her answer. A recent Criminal Justice Inspection report noted that, as of July 2024, the Office of the Police Ombudsman had 19 active investigations of abuse of position for sexual purposes. Does the Minister plan to introduce a more comprehensive vetting process and a code of conduct?
Investigations into complaints about the police are an operational matter for the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (OPONI). However, I recognise the potential for abuse of position, including sexual exploitation, by persons in authority when engaging with vulnerable persons. I therefore support the…
Transparency in the justice system, and particularly in the family courts, has to be balanced against the private and personal information, often related to minors, that could be disclosed. We are looking at that, and the Member might be aware of the work that my Department has been doing on that. However, it is…
Minister, I have been contacted by many parents who have concerns about how the family court system operates. What steps is your Department taking to make the family courts more transparent?
I understand the Member's frustration, but non-molestation orders are a matter for the Department of Finance and not the Department of Justice. Enforcement in individual cases is a matter for the relevant judge, and, in reaching decisions, the judge will strive to ensure that the paramount consideration of the welfare…
If I may, I would like to direct the Minister to discuss the domestic abuse space. We are getting significant complaints from victims of domestic abuse that the non-molestation orders (NMOs) are not as effective as they might be and that perpetrators are perpetually in breach of same. In light of the delay in…
I am not aware that the absence of guardians ad litem or children's court guardians has been a significant issue in slowing access to justice. However, if there are specific areas or issues that the Member is aware of and wants to bring to my attention, I would be more than happy to meet her to discuss them further.
We have set aside additional funding for legal aid in year. Those who are seeking general advice and legal representation, where they are enabled to do so and are entitled to legal aid, should be able to do so more readily. As the Member may be aware, in the previous mandate, we included a waiver for domestic abuse,…
Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Women, in particular, and families who go through the family courts feel that the operation of the system is failing them. The work that you outlined is really useful, and the fact that the scoping exercise is under way is really helpful. Do you have any practical suggestions that…
The legal framework governing the rights of parents and children vests in the Department of Finance rather than in my Department. My Department is responsible for the operation of the justice system and the courts. I am committed to taking whatever steps I can to improve the operation of the family justice system. I…
There are a number of issues here. The devolved justice system was never properly resourced for legacy matters. When Justice was devolved in 2011, all the liabilities that related to the Ministers who held office prior to that were devolved to Northern Ireland, but, at that time, no one anticipated that we would be…
Minister, what is your assessment of the extent to which the PSNI's requirement to deal with legacy investigations impacts on the delivery of contemporary policing and justice priorities?
Any legacy issue that is contested in the public space will have an impact on people's views of the contemporaneous justice system. That is an unavoidable inevitability. However, it is important to note that the decisions around it have been made by the Secretary of State. It would not be appropriate for me to provide…
Minister, do you agree that the ongoing debacle and treatment of Sean Brown's family in regard to his case is presenting significant barriers to trust and confidence not only in policing but the wider criminal justice system?
As you will be aware, representation on behalf of the Executive to Treasury does not happen through each individual Department; it happens through the Department of Finance. However, the case has been made by the Department of Finance on behalf of the Executive that additional resource is needed. I raised the issue of…
I will take the Minister back to the original question around legacy and rebuilding trust and confidence in policing. I concur with her remarks about supporting people from all sections of the community to continue to apply to join the police. However, in the Chief Constable's comments, it is obvious that there is a…
They are two separate issues. First of all, with respect to the former ombudsman, obviously, she is entitled to set out her views, but I have been clear that a patch-and-repair job with respect to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is not the way forward. I do not believe…
Will the Minister confirm whether she agrees with the evidence of the former Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee legacy inquiry: "What is required at this stage is a new institution."? Does the Minister also agree that there must be an independent public inquiry into the murder of…
As the Member will be aware, I have previously made clear my concerns about the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, which marked a significant departure from the Stormont House Agreement, blocked access to justice for many people and caused distress and anxiety for many. I am not surprised…
Again, it is a difficult one, because, essentially, the policy is that, where the road is not adopted by the Department, we cannot take control of that. When we talk about the best use of public money, that is an issue, because, were we to intervene, all sorts of issues could arise. Intervening is also challenging…
I have written to many of your predecessors about a road at Riverside retail park in Coleraine. The issue in that instance is that we cannot ascertain who owns the road, so there is no right of redress. It is getting to the point where the road is becoming unsafe, and I expect that the PSNI might look at closing it.…