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.
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and thanks, of course, to everybody who has taken part in the debate. What I found pleasing was not just that we were almost unanimous, with the exception of People Before Profit, in supporting the legislative consent motion but that people were not prepared to simply let it go through on…
I thank the Member very much for giving way. I listened carefully to his arguments around the tobacco products directive. I was in the European Parliament when we debated it. Of course, the difference between the Windsor framework and the legacy of EU laws and the new laws coming in is that we have no say in the new…
I will talk a little about not only the generalities of the legislative consent motion, which we, obviously, support, but some of the ways that the debate has been used to complain about the Windsor framework/protocol. Clearly, that has been a significant part of the debate. I recognise and agree with many of the…
I support the legislative consent motion (LCM), through which I see an opportunity for better public health, particularly in Northern Ireland, where smoking continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable death. In March 2024, then Health Minister Swann confirmed Northern Ireland's inclusion in the UK Tobacco…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. During questions to the Economy Minister, the Minister refused to answer my question, saying that, because there was a question for written answer in the system, she would answer that first. Will the Speaker give clarity: is that in keeping with guidance in Standing Orders on when…
We should record our debt to the Retired Police Officers' Association for taking the court challenge to the office of the Police Ombudsman and revealing that she has exceeded her powers in repeatedly finding the vague term "collusive behaviour" when, in fact, she found no evidence of actual collusion. Will the Justice…
It is very clear that the court has indicated that, at this stage, it does not believe that the appropriate authority is the ombudsman's office. It is also clear that alternative structures are being created to investigate and, to a degree, adjudicate in matters that relate to legacy issues, of which the Independent…
Minister, who, in your opinion, is the independent authority or arbitrator in determining the extent of collusive behaviour between security forces and loyalist death and punishment squads and between security forces and IRA death and punishment squads?
I have been entirely clear, without any caveats, about condemning the attack on police officers at the weekend. People who put themselves in danger in order to protect the rest of the community deserve our cooperation and respect. They should not face attack. I remind the Member who asked the question that our job, as…
We have heard a lot of deflection from the Minister of Justice today, and a lot of instances of her saying, "It's not my responsibility". However, there is a responsibility on all of us in the House to uphold the rule of law and to support those officers who uphold the rule of law. Does the Minister accept that the…
The issue of whether someone owes somebody else an apology is not one that I am going to get into. The issue is about the robustness of the court judgement. The response of the ombudsman to that will be known in due course, when, like me, she has had adequate time to reflect on it. She will reach her own conclusions…
Does the Justice Minister believe that the ombudsman should apologise to the officers whom she unlawfully defamed? Will she ensure that all reports are speedily amended?
We always know that we are being lined up for one of those gotchas when somebody says that it is a simple yes or no answer. Of course, it is not, because, first, it would be entirely inappropriate for me to make any comment on an ongoing police investigation, so I will not be drawn into doing so, either in a single…
Minister, you may not agree, but there clearly is public concern about this issue in relation to the Police Ombudsman, be it the failure of her office to release the Kingsmills report, a 17-month police investigation by West Midlands Police or, now, a damning court judgement. Do you, as Minister of Justice — it is a…
With respect, the Member's question, whilst it is valid, is way outside the scope of this particular issue. This is about the vires of the ombudsman's office and its legal responsibilities. It is not about wider concerns about the operation of the office in modern-day cases. It is important that we keep focus on the…
Minister, the ombudsman is there to hold the police to account, and that is fair enough. However, we have now got to a stage where the police have lost trust in the ombudsman. Graciously, you condemned the incidents that led to nine injured police officers in Londonderry, but I am hearing that police officers are…
First, I do not agree with the Member, because the judgement does not say that it was by political motivation. It does reflect the reality, however, that, in the view of the courts, the determinations reached exceeded the scope of the ombudsman's powers. Therefore, we will have to reflect on that. As I have already…
The court has ruled that the Police Ombudsman reached conclusions outside her legal scope of office, and, in effect, Marie Anderson has acted illegally and, clearly, in a politically motivated way. I believe that she has compromised her office, and I also believe that she has brought dishonour on that office in more…
When reflecting on all these issues, I am conscious that the most controversial interventions that the ombudsman's office makes tend to involve issues that are about historical legacy cases. That was not the purpose of the ombudsman's office when it was designed, but it became the purpose of the ombudsman in lieu of…
For the record and in contrast to some of the chuntering that we are hearing in the Chamber today, it is worth putting on the record that the people to bear in mind are the innocent men who were gunned down at the Heights Bar in Loughinisland, Sean Graham bookmakers and other locations. There is clear evidence of…
I understand that the Minister may not have read the full judgement. However, given what we know of it, does she agree that the judgement did not say that collusion by state forces did not take place?
I hear what the Minister says. However, given that this is not the first time that the courts have found against the ombudsman for making sweeping statements, will you, Minister, continue to give the ombudsman cover or will you come out against her rather than hide behind what you just said?
I am aware of the High Court judgement and will consider it and any implications that it might have in due course. However, I remind the Assembly that the Police Ombudsman operates independently of the Minister of Justice and of the Department. The ombudsman's office carries out a vital role in investigating…
I thank the Member for her question. I was really grateful to Women's Aid Armagh Down for taking the time to meet me. I was hugely impressed by the really dedicated team there, and I am delighted that work has started on an extension to its premises. I completely agree that domestic violence is an economic issue. It…