Summary

  • MLAs debated the consideration stage of the Justice Bill. It aimed to make a number of changes to the law in relation to the administration of civil and criminal justice.

  • A petition of concern was submitted to block an amendment to tighten the law in Northern Ireland relating to abortion.

  • The amendment was intended to criminalise abortion in any setting other than an NHS property.

  • A DUP amendment proposed the introduction of a paedophile disclosure scheme in Northern Ireland.

  • The Employment Minister, Stephen Farry, and Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell appeared at Question Time.

  1. Goodnight!published at 01:35 British Summer Time 3 June 2015

    ...or should that be good morning!

    Voting is completed on the consideration stage of the Justice Bill.

    Join us at 10.30 in the morning for coverage of the Finance Committee.

  2. Attorney votepublished at 01:23 British Summer Time 3 June 2015

    Sinn Fein's amendment 50, on the attorney general's powers regarding deaths in hospitals, is defeated on a cross-community vote.

  3. Amendment defeatedpublished at 01:01 British Summer Time 3 June 2015

    The abortion amendment is defeated following a cross-community vote in which 39 voted aye and 41 no.

  4. 'Potential for uncertainty'published at 00:38 British Summer Time 3 June 2015

    David Ford

    The Justice Minister, David Ford, says "nothing has changed" in his view since this amendment was last debated and he still feels it is "misplaced and not fit for purpose".

    "This proposal, as in 2013, still provides potential uncertainty and confusion," he says.

    "There are issues that could be subject to different interpretations."

  5. 'Cloud of secrecy'published at 00:07 British Summer Time 3 June 2015

    Basil McCrea

    Basil McCrea of NI21 says he believes that this amendment is an attempt to close down the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast.

    Mr McCrea says he also supported the petition of concern against the amendment.

    Jim Wells of the DUP says he does have "huge problems" with the clinic which he says operates "under a cloud of secrecy".

  6. 'Infatuation'published at 23:44 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Chris Lyttle

    Chris Lyttle of Alliance says he had not intended to speak but has been prompted to do so by "the ongoing DUP infatuation with misrepresenting the Alliance party".

    He says that "for anyone to say that opposition to this amendment is support for pro-abortion is false".

  7. 'Unfortunate and sad'published at 23:30 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Jim Allister

    Jim Allister says it is "unfortunate and sad" that the amendment is to be defeated by the "misuse of a petition of concern".

    He says the Alliance Party speakers have "very firmly nailed their colours to the mast in terms of being overtly and unapologetically pro-abortion".

  8. Private clinicspublished at 23:17 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Edwin Poots

    Edwin Poots of the DUP speaks in favour of the amendment.

    "We don't have the compelling evidence that private clinics are needed," he says.

    Anna Lo of Alliance says there is no clear legal guidance for abortion in Northern Ireland.

    "This is a very serious failing of previous health ministers," she says.

  9. 'No place in this legislation'published at 23:05 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Trevor Lunn

    Trevor Lunn of Alliance says he will be opposing the amendment brought by the chairman of the Justice Committee as "it has no place in this legislation".

    "We should not be discussing the issue on the basis of an amendment to a Justice Bill involving an alteration to the criminal law," he says.

    Mr Lunn adds that this is why has had given his name to a petition of concern for the first time.

  10. 'Current regulations failing'published at 22:56 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Tom Elliott

    Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott says there is a need for members to respect their differing views on this matter.

    He explains that his party has a free vote but that he is more on the side "of support for this amendment" as he feels the current regulations in place are "failing".

  11. Regulationpublished at 22:51 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Alban Maginness

    Alban Maginness of the SDLP says this amendment should not be about whether members do or not support abortion.

    "It is about the regulation, supervision and control over a private commercial abortion clinic in Northern Ireland," he says.

  12. 'Restricts the right of a woman'published at 22:43 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Caitriona Ruane

    Caitriona Ruane of Sinn Fein says this amendment was previously defeated when it was brought before the house on 12 March 2013.

    She explains her party's view is that "it's clearly an attempt to restrict the right of a woman to obtain a termination in life-threatening circumstances".

    "It is an attempt to further compound trauma by marginalising women at a time in our lives when we are most vulnerable," she adds.

  13. Abortion amendmentpublished at 22:36 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Alastair Ross of the DUP, who chairs the Justice Committee, introduces his amendment.

    It proposes making any person who ends the life of an unborn child subject to a prison sentence, unless their actions were lawfully performed at a health and social care trust property such as a hospital or elsewhere if the circumstances were urgent and without a fee.

    A petition of concern backed by assembly members from Sinn Fein, the Green Party and Alliance, has been submitted to block the amendment.

  14. Group Fivepublished at 22:26 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Assembly chamber

    MLAs begin to debate the fifth group of amendments tabled at the consideration stage of the Justice Bill.

    These concern changes to existing offences and creating new ones.

  15. @newbelfastpublished at 22:25 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Mairtin O Muilleoir tweets: "In Assembly chamber for debate on Justice Bill. Believe we will finish debate around midnight".

  16. 'Attorney-general's amendment'published at 22:08 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Raymond McCartney

    Raymond McCartney makes the argument for the Sinn Fein amendment, which he says was referred to in the past as "the attorney-generals' amendment".

    He says he will continue with his speech despite the DUP's petition of concern rendering the debate an academic exercise.

  17. Amendment 50published at 21:50 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Alastair Ross

    Alastair Ross addresses the question of amendment 50.

    It originates in a request from the attorney general regarding "deaths that occur in hospital or where there is otherwise a suggestion that medical error may have occurred" and he has had difficulty in securing documents.

    He says that the committee ultimately did not agree to back the amendment.

  18. Petition of concernpublished at 21:21 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    David Ford outlines the areas covered by the group.

    The group includes amendment 50, brought by Sinn Fein, which is subject to a petition of concern.

  19. Group fourpublished at 21:10 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Mitchel McLaughlin

    Speaker Mitchel McLaughlin introduces group four of the amendments, which includes DNA, fingerprints and photographs.

  20. 'More than a little surprised'published at 21:06 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    David Ford says he is "more than a little surprised by the lack of confidence" shown by members of the committee.

    Sammy Douglas of the DUP says that "maybe the minister is taking this a bit personal".

    Referring to a comment by another member comparing Mr Ford to the Tudor monarch, Mr Douglas adds that "maybe the next minister may be a Henry VIII figure".