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.
Jim Allister of the TUV warns against abandoning all protections for defendants in the interest of victims.
He says the ministers proposal "might be understandable at one level but it's disproportionate in its application".
He says there is "a rush to abandon these tried and trusted processes".
The minister refers to the contributions of Mr Allister and the SDLP's Alban Maginness, both of whom are barristers.
He says MLAs should take account of those with legal experience "but we don't have to go with it entirely".
"It's clear that there are two members of Traditional Legal Voice in this house," Mr Ford adds.
Justice Minister David Ford replies to the earlier speakers.
Regarding Jim Allister's arguments about committal proceedings, the minister says his proposals are based on victims' concerns about having to give traumatic evidence twice, at committal and at trial.
Sinn Fein's Sean Lynch picks up the debate on the Justice bill following Question Time.
He says his party supports the extension of the type of cases that can be dealt with by video link.
Trevor Clarke of the DUP, who chairs the Regional Development Committee, says he welcomes the announcement but questions the cost.
He says he was aware the original cost had doubled to £40m and asks where the extra £6m mentioned today will come from.
The minister says it has been a "challenging project to deliver" but that money will have to be allocated to it as he sees it as a "priority scheme".
The minister says this second phase will "safeguard the future of the line and enable an hourly service to be run".
Danny Kennedy acknowledged that the overall cost of £46m is "higher than originally envisaged but reflects the market that we are competing in".
The original cost of the scheme was estimated at £20m.
Mr Kennedy tells the Assembly that he believes the announcement is "good news for the northwest, it is good news for railways and public transport".
"I think the path to today's announcement hasn't been straightforward or without criticism but I have remained committed," he says.
Trevor Clarke of the DUP is asking an urgent oral question on the second phase of the major upgrade to the railway line between Londonderry and Coleraine.
Earlier today, the Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy, announced that work on the second part was to get under way at the cost of a further £6m.
Chris Lyttle of Alliance asks about the challenges of increasing pay levels and economic productivity.
The minister says the key to creating high-value jobs is investment in research and increasing the skills base.
Mr Lyttle asks about the importance of resolving the dispute over welfare reform, and Mr Bell replies:
"We have no option but to come to an agreement."
Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey asks the minster about the latest figures showing Northern Ireland has the highest level of economic inactivity in the UK, up 4,000 since last year, and the UK's highest level of youth unemployment.
Mr Bell says he is developing "a joint approach" with the employment minister to help economically inactive people make the move into work.
The DUP's Gordon Dunne asks about the "need for political stability" in building economic success.
Mr Bell says that "the more stability we have the more we can drive forward in promoting jobs".
He says he wants to see the current inter-party talks about welfare reform "come to a successful conclusion".
The DUP's Jonathan Bell is taking his first Question Time in his new role as Enterprise Minister.
The SDLP's Colum Eastwood asks about progress in increasing the MASN (Maximum Student Number) at North West Regional College in Londonderry.
Mr Farry says it would be "an utterly futile pointless gesture to be making" when the funding is not available.
Basil McCrea of NI21 asks the minister how he will ensure specialist performing arts training remains available to young people following the proposed closure of the Belfast Metropolitan campus at Tower Street.
The minister says a £12m centre at South Eastern Regional College in Bangor will mirror the courses currently run at Belfast Metropolitan.
He says he is surprised that Mr McCrea buys into the message of "if it's not in Belfast it doesn't work".
Ulster Unionist Sandra Overend asks if there are sufficient childcare places to help people to take up employment.
The minister says he is aware that this can be a particular problem for women, and his department is always looking for "innovative solutions" to help people overcome barriers to employment.
The Employment Minister, Stephen Farry, and Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell are answering MLAs' questions at 2pm.
The sitting finishes for lunch.
We will be back again at 2pm when the Employment Minister, Stephen Farry, and Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell will be appearing at Question Time.
The SDLP North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness says the bill is about "modernising and making our (justice) system better".
"We are making law and making changes that, I think, are substantive and fundamental in relation to the whole trial process," he says.
Mr Maginness also warns against doing "irreparable damage" to a process that is of "great value" and has "stood the test of time".
Raymond McCartney of Sinn Fein, who is the Justice Committee's deputy chairman, says a major part of the bill is "how we treat victims and witnesses".
He says it is "worth considering" the amendments put forward by Mr Allister.
Alastair Ross of the DUP says the Justice Committee, of which he is chairman, "welcomes the bill as it seeks to improve services and facilities for victims and witnesses".
He says members also support the bill's main aims to speed up and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system.