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That concludes another rather busy day of assembly proceedings at Stormont.

We'll be back tomorrow from 10:00 with live coverage of the Economy Committee which will receive a ministerial briefing from Diane Dodds.

MLAs on the committee will also be given a briefing on the impact Covid-19 has had on Queen’s University Belfast & Ulster University.

In the afternoon, we'll join the Committee for the Executive Office, which will be given a briefing on Brexit by departmental officials.

Until then, enjoy the rest of your evening and stay safe.

Communities Committee chairperson Paula Bradley of the DUP says the 12-week period gives the tenant and landlord time to reach agreements without recourse to evictions.

She says the committee welcomes the bill.

The SDLP's Mark Durkan says he wants to place on record the committee's thanks to the minister, the department, the Housing Executive and those working in the housing and homelessness sector.

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The DUP's Jonathan Buckley also welcomes the minister's action to protect the interests of "many of the most vulnerable in society".

The minister winds the debate and the bill passes its final stage on an oral vote.

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Deirdre Hargey "welcomes this opportunity to speak about my bill which responds to the present outbreak of coronavirus".

The minister says she does not "fear any landlord or developer - I never have".

She adds that she has "fought all the way through to the High Court" before on cases, and says "I don't fear any of them".

"My concern is about the timescale and the response," to Covid-19.

She says "these are extraordinary times", adding that many are struggling to "pay rent through no fault of their own".

If you, or someone you know, have been affected by domestic abuse or violence, the following organisations may be able to help.

If you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999.

• The 24 Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline (Northern Ireland) - Phone: 0808 802 1414
• National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Domestic Violence helpline - Phone: 0800 999 5428
• Victim Support NI - Phone: 028 9024 3133
• The National Domestic Abuse Helpline - Phone: 0808 2000 247
• Childline - Phone: 0800 1111

You can find more information by clicking here.

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The Justice Minister concludes her remarks by commending the bill to the house for approval.

She says she and her officials "will do all in our power to ensure the committee can undertake that scrutiny as diligently as possible".

The bill passes its second reading on an oral vote

Principal Deputy Speaker Christopher Stalford moves the assembly to the next item of business, which is the final stage of the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Bill.

Communities Minister Deidre Hargey opens the debate.

Replying to Jim Allister, the minister says "there is a slight irony in being lectured about how a reasonable person would behave by Mr Allister".

She says the offence in Northern Ireland is very different from the offence in England and Wales and that "all that is in the England and Wales definition is covered by our bill, and I think that our offence is more robust than in England and Wales".

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"The new offence also criminalises patterns of psychological or emotionally abusive behaviour, it does not necessarily criminalise the harm caused," she adds.

"He has engaged this afternoon in an argument which, whilst at the core of it there are important questions he then took on to reductio ad absurdum,"she says.

Naomi Long considers points raised by Kellie Armstrong around the "taboo" that "surrounds domestic violence".

She also says "Linda Dillon is correct to say people treated domestic abuse as though it was a private matter- it’s not - it's a criminal offence".

Responding to Rachel Woods she says there will be a programme of work which will seek to raise awareness and educate people on the new legislation.

She says there will be "increased awareness of healthy and unhealthy relationships," particularly for young people.

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The minister says to Ms Woods that she is "aware of the need for safe housing for people".

"People will be aware this is not a matter for me but for the communities minster," she says, adding "I am working closely with Deirdre Hargey" on this issue.

Mrs Long adds that it is "not always appropriate the victim should have to leave their home" and work is being done in this area.

In reply to a comment from Paul Frew about legislation to outlaw stalking, Mrs Long says this bill deals solely with domestic abuse, and also that including stalking in the current bill could have result in a delay.

"It is my intention to bring forward stalking legislation in the autumn," she says, including the introduction of stalking orders.

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In reply to Jemma Dolan's comments about extra-territorial jurisdiction and incidents spanning the border, the minister says the offence will apply when the abuse takes place in Northern Ireland regardless of the nationality of the individual and will also apply if someone is a Northern Ireland resident "and all or part of the abusive behaviour takes place elsewhere".

Naomi Long then turns to the point about parental alienation which was raised by the SDLP's Mark Durkan, which she says is covered in the bill.

Turning to the potential for a Domestic Abuse Victims Commissioner she says she understands it's something the UUP's Doug Beattie is "very passionate about having".

She reiterates that she is "open to considering" the idea about whether one is required but has concerns such a post could "result in duplication".

"We need to think about what additionality a commissioner would bring," she adds.

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The justice minister then welcomes a late intervention by Mark Durkan, who mentions the role mainstream media has in highlighting domestic abuse, in soaps like Coronation Street.

Mrs Long agrees that there is a role for these shows and says she is aware that there is a storyline "in Eastenders at the moment, tackling domestic abuse and violence".

She returns to Doug Beattie's point about raising support for police dealing with domestic abuse and also talks about the need for increased support for children.

The minister says it can have long term impacts on children "living in an environment where there is a prevalence of domestic abuse and violence".

She says there is a need to "bear in mind many children will carry the burden of knowing abuse is going on at home".

In reply to comments from the SDLP's Dolores Kelly, the minister says the department has expanded its advertising around domestic violence.

She says victims who are reporting abuse but are unable to speak due to the presence of the abuser can call 999 and then press 55 to alert the police that they are in danger.

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Also in reply to Mrs Kelly, the minister says it is important for people suffering abuse during the Covid-19 lockdown to know that they are not alone.

"Calls to the 24-hour domestic and sexual abuse helpline have increased by around 52% since the start of the lockdown period, 70% increased the week before last," says the minister, reminding the members that there is a person "behind every one of those statistics".

The justice minister then rises to wrap on the debate.

Naomi Long says she has spoken to many victims and that has been the "driving force behind this bill and they are my motivation".

She says the "general consensus throughout the debate has been that this is the right thing to do" adding she is "heartened by this but not surprised".

The minister then responds to issues raised by MLAs during the discussion, beginning with Paul Givan of the DUP.

She thanks the chair of the Justice Committee "for his commitment to work with the committee and to expedite scrutiny" and says it has been important to make bespoke NI legislation "rather than piggy-back on Westminster legislation".

She says it's "important a balance is struck" by the committee, given "all have spoken of urgency to get this through".

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She turns to Linda Dillon of Sinn Féin's comments about Covid-19 and domestic abuse and says those who "provide counselling and support" were "designated as essential workers" due to the recognition from the "outset that there would be need for people to flee abuse or assist others who are escaping abuse".

She agrees with Ms Dillon that increased sex and relationship education is required.

"Devastatingly" says Mrs Long, "there have been four domestic homicides" in Northern Ireland "since the Covid-19 lockdown began".

She adds that there is work ongoing on a "multi-agency basis" to form a "joined up response at this specific time".

Former justice minister and independent MLA Claire Sugden says "tackling domestic abuse became my overarching priority as minister, as MLA and as a human being".

"My biggest regret is that I could not present this legislation to the house, not, I assure you, because of my ego," she says, "but because three years have passed".

"In those three awful years, women and men have died because of domestic abuse."

She adds that there have been "nearly 100,000 reported incidents while this assembly played politics outside".

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Ms Sugden says it "doesn't bear thinking how may incidents haven't been reported".

She calls it a "great day for this legislation for victims" and says "it's not my intention to pour cold water on what we are now achieving".

She adds that she can only speak for herself when she says she is "deeply sorry to victims and their families who have experienced or are continuing to experience domestic abuse".

"This house allowed domestic abuse to thrive by doing nothing."

She says it is her belief that this law "is the most important law we will pass in this mandate".

Ms Sugden says domestic abuse has "long been the hidden shame of our society" adding that it "isn’t really hidden".

"it's too late for many but moving forward it’s the right thing to do" to pass this legislation, she concludes.

The TUV's Jim Allister says the members will "get no quibble" from him about the need to tackle the "pernicious and insidious" issue of domestic abuse.

He has concerns about "the offence that the bill will create" and criticises the bill's definition of the offence as "more convoluted than it need to be".

The former lawyer offers his analysis.

He picks out one particular "astounding clause":

"In Clause Three it says the domestic abuse offence can be committed whether or not the perpetrator's behaviour actually causes the victim to suffer harm or psychological harm."

He says this is a criminal offence for which you can get 14 years in prison that "can be committed whether or not the person against whom it is said to be committed actually suffers the harm which are the tell-tale signs of the abuse".

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He says that in criminal law there are two components to an offence the mens rea, the intention to do something, and the actus reus "the actual doing of it".

"If Clause Three begins by telling you they haven't actually succeeded in doing anything then how, oh how, can there be on offence?" Mr Allister asks.

He describes the proposed offence as "a convoluted muddle".

"This will be a gift to the defence lawyers," Mr Allister says.

The Green Party's Rachel Woods says "this bill is needed for so many reasons" but "crucially for victims of domestic abuse".

She adds that "31,000 incidents were recorded last financial year" and that "this is only the ones that are recorded".

Ms Woods says it's important to "ensure the home is a safe place for all children and young people".

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Ms Woods speaks of the Covid-19 regulations which have seen "increased domestic tensions in households," adding that "isolation is a technique used by perpetrators of abuse".

She calls on those experience abuse to "please, seek help".

Kellie Armstrong of the Alliance Party "thanks the minister for bringing this forward".

She says there has been a lot of "processing pieces of legislation in recent weeks" but says this legislation "goes beyond Covid-19".

"That is why this piece of legislation is needed and needed so quickly," she adds.

She says, "people need to know their abusers will be prosecuted" adding that she hope those who are "currently in an abusive situation will take heart" that the bill is in the chamber.

She adds that she hopes the "media take the opportunity to covey to victims that you are not alone. This house has your back. You do not need to live in silence or in terror".

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Mrs Armstrong adds "I don't know what it feels like" and "fear you or your children could be subject to physical, mental or sexual abuse by a loved one".

She adds that "quite often it's a shame" which prevents victims coming forward, and that the "community knows that there's something going on but quite often it's something that's not spoken about in the wider community".

"We do not want to see anyone is our society living in fear, especially not in their own home," she concludes.

Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly says the legislation is "vitally important" and it's clear that there is widespread support for the principles of the bill.

He says domestic abuse and gender-based abuse "remains rife in our society".

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Mr Kelly says domestic abuse has been on the rise globally in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.

"The present situation does not cause victims of domestic violence, abusers do," he says.

Mr Kelly says he'd like to welcome the early intervention of the police to tackle the rise of abuse during the current crisis.

The DUP's Jonathan Buckley then rises to speak on the bill.

He outlines the forms domestic abuse can take, including, "physical abuse, sometimes the most horrific abuse of that of a physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional, financial, modern slavery in the homes".

"This is what domestic abuse looks like, and members it’s happening day in, day out in Northern Ireland."

He adds that the "family home is a place of refuge" where "we can be with our loved ones, share company, share fellowship and help one another".

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Mr Buckley adds that "it's a damning indictment of this place that we are only getting round to this issue now".

He says "one of the very consequences of tearing down" the devolved institutions, was that this bill "sat on the shelf, shamelessly, while people suffered in their homes".

"I welcome the fact today that broadly all parties support the legislation coming forward," he says.

"For the first time, this legislation includes and makes coercive control and offences in Northern Ireland," he adds - something he welcomes.

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Jemma Dolan of Sinn Féin welcomes the bill's commitment to extra-territorial jurisdiction.

This means it can cover incidents occurring when victims are on holiday.

"Sinn Féin would like assurances that this would cover abuse which may happen to people living in border communities, where the abuse can often happen across both jurisdictions including, for example, on nights out or at the victim's place of work," she says.

Ms Dolan says she has been assured that specific stalking legislation can be expected in the autumn.

The DUP's Paul Givan says it is a "very good day for Northern Ireland that we are at the second stage of this bill".

He pays tribute to former Justice Minister Claire Sugden for her work "to get this bill to this house and through no fault of her own wasn't able to proceed".

He says, "we are behind, and we have failed the victims of domestic violence and their families," by not having this legislation in place already.

"That's why we need to make sure, we’re here to legislate, and we’re doing the job we’re meant to be doing," he says.

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Mr Frew says there is a need to ensure the legislation "is enacted with the spirit and robustness that it should be to protect victims and society".

"We want to make sure this piece of legislation is the best it can be and that it can work on the ground," adding that it's important for everyone to have "a buy-in".

"We don't want to open up this legislation for abuse in any shape or form," he adds.

Mr Frew says he "looks forward to time on the committee scrutinising" the bill.

Labour's Tony Lloyd, who was confirmed to have contracted coronavirus, has announced he is to step down as shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

The 70-year-old was released from intensive care last week and is said to be "on the mend".

He wrote on Twitter: "It certainly is a tough condition and it has no doubt left me literally gasping for air."

Mr Lloyd is to be replaced by MP for Sheffield Heeley, Louise Haigh.