I have placed copies of the Criminal Justice System Northern Ireland's annual report for 2004–05 in the Libraries of both Houses, on behalf of the criminal justice ministerial trilateral.

This year the report has adopted a thematic approach, detailing progress against six themes: working in partnership; reaching out to the community; responsiveness; reducing delay; confidence in the criminal justice system; and promoting diversity.

The report demonstrates how each agency contributes to and supports its partner organisations in the achievement of cross-cutting objectives. Key areas of success include the development of the new causeway information sharing system, progress on the development of the new public prosecution service, the establishment of 26 community safety partnerships, the joint NIPS and PBNI resettlement strategy, and the appointment of lay magistrates.

The report demonstrates that all of us, from ministerial level through to frontline staff, are committed to ensuring that the criminal justice system serves the community effectively, in partnership and with integrity.