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 welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. First, I will make a winding-up speech, and then I will make some comments on behalf of Sinn Féin. At the beginning of the debate, Robbie Butler, in his first foray into the Chamber as the Chair of the Committee — I welcome him to the role — pointed out that new…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I will begin by setting out the context to explain why my Department has laid the Hops Certification (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024. Until December 2023, the UK's domestic hops regulations — the Hops Certification Regulations 1979, which were made just a few…
As I understand it, at present no one in Northern Ireland grows hops. The principal reason, therefore, for the regulations is to give DAERA the power to conduct checks on third-country hops entering Northern Ireland to ensure that they are compliant with EU rules on third-country hops entering the EU single market. As…
FlaggedConstitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereigntyCriteria met: Identity framing.
I refer the Minister to the domestic and sexual abuse strategy: the second pillar on prevention and the fifth pillar on justice. Given the pressure on the policing budget, does the Minister, on behalf of his colleague, recognise the importance of the neighbourhood policing budget to ensure visibility and community…
Limited resources and financial prudence should not come into the discussion about trying to prevent violence and support women who have been victims of violence. I appreciate that you are standing in today, Minister, but have there been discussions about extra funding being made available to support people leaving…
It is disappointing that the Justice Minister is not here to answer questions on the matter. It is terribly sad that another young woman has lost her life in the past day. Does the stand-in Minister agree that the chronic underfunding of the police by the Minister's Department, which is leading to insufficient officer…
I appreciate the Minister's standing in today. Will he convey to the Minister of Justice the need to support women who suffer domestic and violent abuse and the need to support organisations such as Nexus, which does so much work in that area? Will the Minister of Justice write to Members outlining her interactions…
Twenty-four women have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020. Based on the information given in the previous question, that is 25 now, and five in the past six weeks. That is a huge escalation, and it is terrifying that Northern Ireland is one of the most dangerous places in Europe for women to live. Given…
Thank you, Minister, for coming to the Chamber to answer our questions. I am aware of breaking news that another woman in Northern Ireland has lost her life today. Do you accept that there is a need for a complete overhaul of the family court system? I have discussed that with the Minister. There are real flaws in the…
The sentencing framework for crimes is a matter that is often discussed, and I know that it is reviewed in many instances. It has to be taken into account. You mention children and young people, and it is about ensuring that we support them, because they are often the most significant victims and live with it for the…
I thank the Minister for standing in for the Justice Minister. It is an incredibly sensitive time to be speaking. We had reports yesterday of a young child in Dungannon losing their life in suspicious circumstances, and a number of people have been arrested. Inarguably, young people are disproportionately affected…
I welcome Leonard Consultancy's review of the MARAC process. The Justice Minister has indicated that she is committed to ensuring that the risk posed to victims of domestic abuse is assessed and managed as effectively as possible. Her Department has set up a dedicated multi-agency oversight group to consider the…
I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber today to talk about this very serious issue. Far too many women have been lost to femicide in Northern Ireland. Will changes be made to the multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARAC) as a result of the report undertaken by Marcella Leonard?
I thank the Minister for his update to the House. I know that he has been a long-term campaigner on this important issue. I thank him for all the work that he continues to do. I ask why the Justice Minister herself was unable to come to the House to answer Members' questions.
The Member says that this is a serious issue. In all our discussions today and thereafter we have to take a victim-centred approach. I am happy to discuss this with my colleague the Justice Minister after Question Time and in due course. I recognise the issue that the Member raises. It is an important issue and we…
Minister, you may not be able to deal with the detail of this. Section 8 of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 included anonymity not just for people who were accused of rape but for those who experienced rape or were victims of it. This is a very serious and sensitive…
Thanks very much to Andrew for stepping in. To highlight it, in the course of this question for urgent oral answer, two women will report domestic abuse. That really sets in context the importance of why we are here. I ask the Minister, beyond strategies and action plans, on the back of four women having been murdered…
I thank the Member for her follow-up question. It is absolutely critical that we take practical actions, and there are many outlined in the strategies that we will talk about today. One thing that is particularly critical is how we work with the community and voluntary sector and those who provide support in the…
While I am disappointed that the Justice Minister is not in her place, I am grateful to her colleague for stepping up and answering such a serious question on a serious issue that faces our society at present. As the Minister outlined, the woman who have been killed in the past six weeks are: Sophie Watson, on 18…
I start by offering my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mary Ward, who recently lost her life under horrific circumstances, becoming the fourth woman to be killed here in just six weeks. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the other three woman — Montserrat Martorell, Sophie Watson and…
One way that we want to move forward on the issue is by looking at what happens in other jurisdictions, because there are different legislative frameworks. That will be part of the policy development work. I am happy to engage with officials about that.
I thank the Minister for her answer. Some legislation is passing through Westminster. Certainly, a White Paper was produced, and I believe that the Labour Government will bring that through. Will the Minister's Department work with the UK Government on that, and, if we do not have the facility or recourse here, can we…