Question Time: Justice Monday 1 March 2021

Justice Minister Naomi Long answers Members questions in the Assembly Chamber 1 March 2021. Read the Official Report (Hansard) – https://lk.nia.fyi/3HLR

Each of the questions answered have been chaptered in the video to help you find them more easily.

Chapters / Questions

00:00 – Court Cases: Backlog
1. Mr Harvey asked the Minister of Justice for an update on the current backlog of cases in the court system in comparison to pre-pandemic levels. (AQO 1656/17-22)

08:30 – Domestic Abuse: Media Campaign
2. Mr McGrath asked the Minister of Justice when the media campaign in relation to the new domestic abuse offences is due to be launched. (AQO 1657/17-22)

13:59 – Organised Crime
3. Mr Catney asked the Minister of Justice to outline her post-Brexit priorities in relation to cross-border cooperation in tackling organised crime. (AQO 1658/17-22)

17:49 – 4. Mr Durkan asked the Minister of Justice for an update on the work of the cross-border joint agency task force in tackling organised crime. (AQO 1659/17-22)

25:09 – Sentencing Review: Update
6. Mr O’Dowd asked the Minister of Justice for an update on the sentencing review. (AQO 1661/17-22)

Topical Questions

29:48 – Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme
T1. Mr Lunn asked the Minister of Justice for an update on her Department’s administration of the Troubles permanent disablement payment scheme. (AQT 1051/17-22)

33:21 – Domestic Abuse: Tariffs
T2. Ms P Bradley asked the Minister of Justice for her views on a session at a conference last week that focused on violence against women and girls, with a female judge and a female barrister agreeing that the tariffs for domestic abuse need to be used to their maximum in order to give a clear message that domestic abuse is not tolerated in our society. (AQT 1052/17-22)

35:14 – Charlotte’s Law: Update
T3. Mr Easton asked the Minister of Justice for an update on her engagement, which started last August, with relevant key stakeholders and families after the debate on Charlotte’s law. (AQT 1053/17-22)

39:47 – Civil Justice
T4. Mr Lyttle asked the Minister of Justice what work her Department is undertaking to improve civil justice. (AQT 1054/17-22)

43:34 – Damages (Return on Investment) Bill: Urgency
T5. Mr Dickson asked the Minister of Justice to outline the need for urgency in respect of the Damages (Return on Investment) Bill. (AQT 1055/17-22)