Oral Answers to Questions — Justice – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 17 June 2024.
Matthew O'Toole
Social Democratic and Labour Party
2:30,
17 June 2024
T1. Mr O'Toole asked the Minister whether, if she is successful in seeking another office to leave the office that she holds now and as this could be the last time that she is in the Chamber to answer questions as Minister, given that she has now had several weeks in which to consider whether to appeal the High Court's scathing rejection of the anonymity provisions in the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act 2022, she will do what sexual offence victims and media organisations would like her to do and confirm that she will not appeal that judgement. (AQT 391/22-27)
Naomi Long
Alliance
I will do what is right in front of the law and the Assembly. The specifics of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act — the four clauses — are one element of that consideration, and they are an important one, but the wider ramifications of the judgement for the ability of the House, Committees and, indeed, the Executive to take forward legislation are not insignificant. Therefore, I will wait until the full legal advice has been offered to me before I make any decision. I have briefed my Executive colleagues and others for whom this is relevant on some of the detail of that, and I will make the right decision on the basis of the future of the House and its ability to legislate on those matters.
Matthew O'Toole
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Given that, in a fortnight's time, you are standing for election to leave the job, Minister, you may not be the one who makes that decision. I know that your diary is filled with visits to funfairs and other matters, but it is important that we deal with these things seriously.
Political stability is another issue. You and I agree that neither the First Minister nor the deputy First Minister should have the power to resign their office and throw the Executive into instability. If you are elected as MP for East Belfast, your replacement will have to be elected specifically and uniquely by the Chamber. If that happens, is there a political agreement that an Alliance Party representative will replace you, and, if not, will you commit that your party will not throw the institutions into instability by leaving the Executive, should the next Justice Minister, if you are successful in the General Election, not be an Alliance representative?
Naomi Long
Alliance
With respect, Mr Speaker, I am not sure that the General Election is a matter that falls to the Department of Justice, nor do I believe that the question is particularly appropriate. I cannot use my resources in the Department to promote my campaign; equally, I do not think that other parties should use the Chamber to promote theirs. There has to be some appropriateness when it comes to such things. I am glad to know that the Member is watching me so closely to see how I spend my time outside the Chamber. He will, no doubt, also have recognised that the 30 seconds that I spent on the ghost train, which, by the way, was excellent value for money, was only a tiny part of a busy day on the campaign trail.
Edwin Poots
DUP
Dr Aiken is not in his place. I call Paula Bradshaw.
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Of a male MP, sitting on his regular seat in the House. For females, "in her place".
