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.
I am grateful to the Minister for that clarification, but the issue of self-identification has the potential to be a predator's charter. As we have seen in England and Scotland, predators will cynically exploit any loophole, and, in all of those circumstances, it is the hard-won rights of women that are depleted —
FlaggedGender, sexuality, abortion and related social issuesCriteria met: Identity framing, Dog-whistle messaging.
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 3 and 12 together. I believe that both questions have been prompted by erroneous reporting of a recent court case and wish to clarify the position. An application for leave to issue a writ of habeas corpus was lodged, alleging that an applicant's detention at…
We do not outsource responsibility for housing prisoners on behalf of the Prison Service. People are committed to prison on remand or on the basis of full-time committal, and they are housed in the Prison Service estate. There are, of course, pressures in the prison estate, but I can say that, currently, accommodation…
There are around 140 custody cells throughout the police estate, including those in reserve custody suites. Can the Minister confirm whether any of those cells have been used to house prisoners in the short to medium term due to pressures in the Prison Service estate?
If the Member is unclear on the tripartite arrangements that pertain to the oversight of policing and justice, I am more than happy to meet her to explain them. In the interim, however, I will not enter into anything that would cut across the responsibilities of the Policing Board or those of the Chief Constable. My…
The police are part of the Justice Department. I do not understand why the Minister keeps firing PSNI issues off her table to the Chief Constable. There are clear concerns in my constituency that custody suites that are being upgraded are in close proximity to operational policing matters. I am pretty sure that…
The management of the PSNI estate, including custody suites, is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. As I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the board, I suggest that you direct your…
That issue is raised with me perennially. I have said before to the Member, who often raises it, that the solution will come from outside in, not from inside out. The threat that is posed by those who are granted access to the separated regime by the Secretary of State is managed carefully in the prison. Increasingly,…
Minister, I acknowledge the hard work that your Department has done in dealing with paramilitarism. I fed into that work, particularly the language used for paramilitaries. Has the Minister had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) on ending the separated…
I thank my colleague for the question. The new legislation is intended to demonstrate the important commitment of law enforcement to specifically tackle serious organised crime by ensuring that it has additional legislative tools available. It is also intended to send a strong message that no individuals are deemed to…
The particular recommendation from the Independent Reporting Commission to which the Member refers is a matter for the UK and Irish Governments, not the Department of Justice. As far as I am concerned, anyone who is engaged in criminal activity should cease that activity now and needs no further assistance to do so.…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Minister, there has been some speculation that a person is to be appointed to engage with those illegal groups. Can you confirm or deny that? Obviously, there are those of us who are concerned that, given that a lot of years have passed since the Good Friday Agreement, that would risk…
My officials and I have regular discussions with our colleagues in the UK and Irish Governments on matters relating to ending the harm caused by paramilitarism. The Independent Reporting Commission has an important role in reporting on progress towards that objective, and I welcome its positive feedback on the work of…
Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, thank you. I will be finished before 2.00 pm. I thank the Chair of the Committee and the others who have spoken for their broader support for what we are achieving. I want to address two specifics. I will take them in reverse order. Mr Carroll mentioned a constituent of his. I have not…
Having a regulatory framework to ensure that medicines are made near the patient, at the point of care, is important, and it is essential in many cases. It is important to have personalised manufactured products near the point of care owing to the nature of diseases and, as the Minister said, the short shelf life that…
I will speak briefly on the statutory rule (SR), which we in the Alliance Party are content to support. I thank the Minister for bringing it to the House today and for his contribution. As has already been outlined, the SR will provide an updated regulatory framework for point-of-care and modular manufacture…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I am sure that I have got that wrong again. Minister, many times we sit in Committee and then leave scratching our heads and wondering where on earth this is all leading to and where the light is. I am sure that when you leave the Department, you sometimes feel a little bit…
I beg to move Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I seek the Assembly's approval for the making of the draft statutory instrument (SI), which will amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 — the "HMRs", as they are known — and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004. That will enable the…
Minister, post-19 special educational needs provision is not your remit, but it should be, because the Minister of Health and the Minister for the Economy are, frankly, failing in that area. There is an opportunity, even through the legislation that you propose, to extend it to the age of 25. Are you willing to…
Minister, I hope that this plan, which the House has not yet seen, signals an end to the sticking plaster approach to special educational needs in Northern Ireland. The Minister is right to point out the cost of transformation, but the cost of doing nothing is much greater to our children, young people and families.…
The Minister's comments about classroom assistants were a bit concerning, in that it sounds like we are moving away from them. It even sounds as though we are making the case for fewer classroom assistants at a time when SEN workers are overstretched and overworked. Will the reform agenda involve the pausing or…
Yes, Principal Deputy Speaker. If you just bide your time, I will get to the question. What in the statement will address that situation? Will you commit today, Minister, to look at this case, which happens to be in your constituency, to see what can be done so that this young child can start a special educational…