Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill: Second Stage

Part of Executive Committee Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:45 pm on 28 April 2020.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Paul Givan Paul Givan DUP 2:45, 28 April 2020

He is right in saying that individual Members can bring forward their own amendments, and I have no doubt that some will. Previous experience of the Justice Committee, which the Member has chaired and which I chaired once before, informs me that Committees have successfully scrutinised individual Members' amendments. If individual Members are going to be bringing forward amendments, I, as Chair of the Committee, would encourage that that happen sooner rather than later. The Committee can then carry out scrutiny work and get advice on the amendments. Ultimately, it can agree on what become Committee amendments, if the Department is not prepared to take them on. In the past, the Justice Committee has been quite successful with the Committee amendments that it has brought forward, with or without the support of the Department.