T2. Mr Buckley asked the Minister of Justice, having pointed out that, at present, the Alliance Party seems to be a party with a number of competing leaders, all with conflicting viewpoints, that the disgraceful comments by Kneecap in supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation and that the utterly despicable comments and chants of "Kill Your MP" were reprehensible, whether, given her legal responsibilities as Justice Minister and as a party leader, she will distance herself from her party colleague Danny Donnelly, who appeared to suggest that those words were merely artistic expression. (AQT 1262/22-27)

First, I come to the Chamber to answer questions as Minister of Justice, not as leader of the Alliance Party. If the Member wishes to speak to me as leader of the Alliance Party after Question Time, he is, of course, at liberty to do so. However, in my role as Minister of Justice and as leader of the Alliance Party, on this occasion, let me be absolutely clear: no one in Alliance suggested, as he said that Danny "appeared" to do, that there was simply artistic licence. What Danny called out in his tweet was the hypocrisy of those who will meet local terrorist organisations and then denounce those who support international terrorist organisations. That is what Danny called out. However, what we said as a party, which I lead, is that there should be no place for any support for any terrorist group. That has been our consistent position since the foundation of the party, and, whatever and whoever the leader of Alliance may be, I assure you that that one certainty will not change.

I am glad that the Minister is in the form to clear the air. The Minister, her Department and her party seem to also have conflicting views on common sense where the Supreme Court judgement that ruled on women and biological sex is concerned. Therefore, on policing practice, does the Minister agree that biological men should not be allowed to strip-search females? Yes or no, or should we wait for one of your would-be leaders to tell us what you really think?

It is very clear under Standing Order 19 that Members are not permitted ask a Minister for an opinion. They can ask for an assessment but not an opinion. Let me be clear: the Member asks the question, but the Minister decides what the answer will be, and I will not be confined by Members to saying yes or no.

Where the ruling of the Supreme Court on biological sex is concerned, I encourage the Member to read it and to read it in the context in which it applies, which is the interconnection between the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act 2010 does not apply in Northern Ireland. Like Ministers in every other Department, I await advice and guidance from the Human Rights Commission on how the judgement of the Supreme Court may impact on processes, guidance and procedures in my Department and in every other Department. However, to be clear, that operational guidance that he speaks about will be a matter for the PSNI Chief Constable, as it is operational, and for the Policing Board, on which his party has members. The Member cannot ask me for my opinion under Standing Orders.