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 not aware, but I am happy to take a clarification from the Bill sponsor. It is in poor taste to query such an eminent person and his opinion of the Bill. Mr O'Neill further says that the Bill would establish landmark "gender self-identification" in law in Northern Ireland and that that self-declared identity…
I appreciate the Member's giving way. Does she agree that Mr O'Neill is perhaps eminently more qualified than me but also the sponsor of the Bill when it comes to the law? Is the Member aware of whether the Bill sponsor has any law qualifications, given that he is challenging the opinion of a practising KC?
The Member might want to take that up with him. It is hard to hear some of the issues that are being raised about the Bill. I know the Bill sponsor well, and he knows me. He knows that I am not out to hurt, destroy or demean anyone, but we must tell the truth about the legislation. We must discuss what is in the Bill,…
I presume that Aidan O'Neill KC, one of Scotland's leading lawyers — lawyer of the year, last year, I think — would not produce a brief for anybody that he did not believe reflected what was in the legislation.
I thank the Member for giving way. The fact that the legislation has passed the competence checks and is on the Floor for debate is evidence of how flawed that legal opinion is, and "legal opinion" is putting it strongly. I met the Christian Institute, which commissioned the advice. I note that the Member was keen to…
I thank the Member for taking an intervention. My understanding is that they set out to get 15 people to be part of the research that she refers to, which was commissioned by the Rainbow Project and others and paid for by the Department for Communities. They wanted to get 15 people from across Northern Ireland who had…
I thank the Member. It is really important, on a day when we are all being lectured about equality, that equality is not just for those who take a particular view on conversion therapy or gender identity but for the parents who have brought up their children in a Christian home, who want to live by those values and…
I thank the Member for the opportunity to respond, and it is important that we clarify this once again. The Equality Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are able to undertake equality screening only of policy change that they themselves are introducing. It is not their role to equality screen…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. If I recall correctly, just before the break for Question Time, we had been talking about the issue of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) and the lack of an equality impact assessment (EQIA). It may be useful at this stage if I give way to the sponsor of the…
On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I appreciate that clarity. My recollection is that you stated that it was not for the Bill sponsor to answer questions on how many genders there were. The point that my colleagues and I were making is that the Bill defines "gender identity" in law but does not…
On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. it is entirely open to the Prison Service in such a case to appeal a decision, even if the decision cannot be remedied.
I thank the Minister. The information provided today has given us a clearer understanding of what happened, even if it has not alleviated concerns. The decision was made by the judge. Was there any opportunity for the Prison Service to appeal it, if it was so concerned? With regard to the chaperone in particular, to…
There are serious questions for the Court Service to answer and a need for serious reflection and review in this case, which has gone so badly wrong. I thank the Minister for her answers. What role will she and her Department play in reviewing the case with the Court Service to ensure that the chances of such a thing…
I concur with Mark Durkan's comments about our thoughts being with the victims in this case, because it is they who will be most traumatised. Minister, you are right not to criticise the court's decision, because we have to keep the two things separate, and we should never interfere. However, could you have a…
Minister, thank you for that information. Getting those answers from you has really helped, but, I have to say, it is a sad indictment of our courts that they have overruled our Prison Service and put public safety in jeopardy. As the Minister knows, I have engaged with her on that type of thing on many occasions,…
First and foremost, my thoughts are with the Kelly family, whom I know well and who have been re-traumatised by this unfortunate incident. I have performed the role of civilian chaperone on several occasions in the past. Is it the case that a wider security concern exists in certain areas, including certain areas in…
Following on from the previous question, I would like a bit more clarity. The Prison Service was not happy that that individual be released, but the court overturned its decision. Who made the decision that the individual would be accompanied by a civilian chaperone and not by someone from the Prison Service? Was the…
Minister, you mentioned that the individual was accompanied on day release by a civilian chaperone. Is that normal? Given that the PSNI has said that there is a danger to the public, can you assure us that the police are doing all that they can to ensure that the individual comes back into custody?
I thank the Minister for going into quite a bit of detail. There is one thing that puzzles me. In making its decision, did the court fully examine the concerns that the Prison Service had and give any reason for overturning its decision?
I appreciate the update from the Justice Minister, but there still may be lessons to be learned. A judicial review is successful only if the original decision was viewed by the judge to be either irrational or unlawful. Are there lessons for the Prison Service to learn on how its decision was formulated, recorded or…
I thank the Minister for her response. This is very concerning for the victims who are involved. Minister, are you able to clarify or confirm whether the conditions of this person's release were set by the Northern Ireland Prison Service or by the courts?
I thank the Minister for her informative answers, which are extremely helpful. I now have a certain sympathy for the Prison Service. What measures or countermeasures have been put in place by the Prison Service and, indeed, the PSNI, given the direction of the court?
I thank the Minister for the detail that she has provided, which, as has been said, was not available to the public this morning. How soon after the incident were the murder victim's family contacted and told about the situation, and what is the Department doing to reassure them?