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. 'Rather complex'published at 20:57 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Stewart Dickson

    Stewart Dickson of Alliance says he will be supporting the minister on Clause 86.

    He says the bill is "rather complex and wide-ranging".

    For the DUP's Paul Frew the clause is "too wide-ranging".

    He says part of the MLAs' scrutiny role is to consider "the indirect consequences of bills and laws".

  2. 'Hornet's nest'published at 20:50 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Sean Lynch

    A number of members speak in opposition to Clause 86 of the bill.

    Sean Lynch of Sinn Fein says it is "a power so wide that it can pretty much do anything it wants".

    Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott describes it as "a pretty wide hornet's nest".

  3. Third group of amendmentspublished at 20:17 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    David Ford speaks on the third group of amendments which are more technical in nature.

    He explains that the majority relate to the bill's single jurisdiction for county and magistrate court's powers.

  4. Vote resultspublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    The DUP amendment proposing the introduction of a paedophile disclosure scheme in Northern Ireland wins support.

    The SDLP withdraws amendment 6. Its other amendments in this grouping are voted through with no opposition.

  5. SDLP amendmentspublished at 20:04 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Mr Ford says that he is in "broad agreement and fully accepts the spirit" of the amendments tabled by the SDLP in relation to domestic violence.

    He adds, however, that they contain some detail which needs to be adjusted.

    In response to an earlier question from the DUP's Sammy Douglas, Mr Ford says that in his view, domestic violence is "gender and sexual orientation" neutral.

  6. Ford responds to second amendment grouppublished at 19:58 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    David Ford

    Justice Minister David Ford responds to the second group of amendments tabled at the consideration of the Justice Bill.

    He says that he will be supporting the DUP amendment but says "minor tweaks" will be required.

    "No-one should assume that this is a panacea to prevent all risks to children," he adds.

    "It is clearly not that. The proposal addresses only one element of risk, that which comes from offenders with convictions for sexual crime and certain types of violent offending.

    "It still needs to be said that most offending behaviour against children is much more likely to come from persons known to the child but not known to the police."

  7. 'Empowering legislation'published at 19:18 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Paul Givan

    Paul Givan of the DUP says this piece of legislation will "empower those with responsibility for children to be able to make decisions for the good of the child".

    "It moves the rights of the paedophile, in terms of privacy that they are currently afforded, into the hands of the parents and guardians," he says.

  8. 'Affects whole community'published at 19:08 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Sammy Douglas

    East Belfast DUP MLA Sammy Douglas says he supports the SDLP amendments relating to domestic violence "in principle".

    He says this is a problem affecting the "whole community" and he has seen "first hand" the impact of domestic violence on families.

    Mr Douglas says he hopes that the amendments relate to all victims, whether they be men or women.

  9. Morrow speaks on his amendmentpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Lord Morrow

    Lord Morrow is speaking on the amendment he has tabled to the bill along with his party colleague, Paul Frew.

    It proposes the introduction of a paedophile disclosure scheme in Northern Ireland.

    He says he believes "Northern Ireland would be a better place" if this amendment makes it to legislation.

  10. Child protectionpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Raymond McCartney

    Sinn Fein's Raymond McCartney says he is "broadly supportive" of the minister's amendments regarding disclosure.

    He says his party will be supporting the DUP amendment tabled by Paul Frew and Lord Morrow.

    "It's about protecting children," he says.

  11. 'Person X'published at 18:14 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Basil McCrea

    Basil McCrea of NI21 asks whether "Person X" is informed that information has been released about them.

    "In most cases that is the procedure," Mr Frew replies.

  12. Unreported abusepublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Mr Frew reminds members that many incidents of child abuse go unreported, and are often carried out by family members.

    "This amendment will not solve that," he says.

  13. Paedophile Disclosure Schemepublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Paul Frew

    Paul Frew of the DUP speaks on his amendment designed to introduce a paedophile disclosure scheme in Northern Ireland.

    The scheme would be similar to 'Sarah's Law' - the law introduced in England, Scotland and Wales in 2011.

    It allows a parent or guardian to ask police if a person who has contact with children is a child sex offender.

  14. Potentialpublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Tom Elliott

    Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott says the SDLP amendments have the potential "to do a lot of good".

    He praises the work of Women's Aid and welcomes the proposals regarding Clare's Law.

  15. Backing for SDLP proposalspublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Sean Lynch

    Sean Lynch of Sinn Fein backs the SDLP's proposals on domestic violence.

    He refers to high levels of domestic violence across the island of Ireland.

    "We as politicians in our offices have people arriving at our doors at all times of the days and afternoons," Mr Lynch says.

  16. Clare's Lawpublished at 17:32 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Alastair Ross

    Alastair Ross of the DUP, who chairs the Justice Committee, says the Department of Justice has acknowledged that there remains a gap for the immediate protection of domestic violence victims in the short term.

    He says he looks forward to hearing the minister's response to the proposed amendments which could "potentially provide greater protections".

    Mr Ross adds a disclosure scheme similar to Clare's Law would have a "positive impact but must be crafted correctly".

    It was named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2009 - and came into force across England and Wales in March 2014.

  17. Domestic violence disclosure schemepublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Dolores Kelly

    Dolores Kelly of the SDLP says that on average, five women in Northern Ireland lose their lives to domestic violence every year.

    She says that according to police statistics, 27,628 domestic violence incidents were reported in 2013-14.

    Ms Kelly says her party is calling for a domestic violence disclosure scheme, similar to Clare's Law, external, to be established in Northern Ireland.

  18. 'Victim support'published at 17:08 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Mitchel McLaughlin

    The Speaker, Mitchel McLaughlin, explains that this second group of amendments proposes administrative measures to protect, make disclosures or share information about vulnerable groups.

    He explains the schemes proposed hope to "allow police to disclose previous patterns of offending to the public about domestic violence and child sex offences and allow inter-agency sharing of information to better victim support and safeguards".

  19. Second set of amendmentspublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    MLAs begin debating the second group of amendments which relate to prevention, protection and disclosure relating to vulnerable groups.

  20. Vote divisionpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 2 June 2015

    Jim Allister's opposition to a clause concerning reforming the committal and court process is supported with 42 members voting with him compared to 39 against.