Naomi Long
East Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Underneath the Facebook posts to say that he had passed away, people speculated with such comments as, "Probably high on drugs", "Probably drunk", and, "Typical boy racer". There was all of that speculation. It was hurtful to the family, and it was inaccurate.”
“There are circumstances that we need to consider and be careful of. I was told, for example, that, when the issue of good character references at trial was being looked at in New South Wales — Committee members may wish to look at this for themselves — one of the groups that opposed their removal was representative of domestic abuse victi…”
“It sets out the strategic direction adopted by the Department and key partners to tackle those appalling crimes and protect vulnerable victims of exploitation.”
“The provision seeks to provide protection, via legal advice and representation for complainants, against the use of non-relevant personal material and evidence of previous sexual history being used in the court process.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the wider issue of ensuring that a withdrawal of services never happens again, I think that most of us agree that, although everyone has the right to take industrial action, no one has the right to derail and hold to ransom the entire justice system in that way.”
“Those measures will go some way towards helping to support complainants and enable them to have input into the decision-making process about what records containing their personal and sensitive information are required to be shared with the defence.”
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“Significant work around fireworks is ongoing, and it takes place particularly at this time of year. We work with the PSNI and others on that. A strong regulatory framework on fireworks is already in place. In cases of the sale or purchase of fireworks where people fail to comply with that framework, penalties are available and are used. It is more important that we ask people to be responsible in their use of fireworks. The noise can be distressing for children, adults and particularly for animals. Low-noise fireworks are now available: they have all the pizzazz with none of the fear. People should increasingly consider using those.”
“<BR /> <BR />At a strategic level, the community safety network, which is chaired by my Department, promotes shared and collective ownership by partners inside and outside the Department of Justice to ensure that there is a collaborative response to multifaceted community safety issues such as ASB. Additionally, where a criminal justice response is appropriate, and to ensure that the relevant authorities have effective and proportionate enforcement powers, my Department led a multi-agency, cross-departmental review of ASB legislation and launched a joint public consultation with DFC on potential legislative change. It is now progressing the outworkings of that consultation.”
“Given the complexity of ASB, it cannot be addressed by the criminal justice system alone. Effective partnership working across local government and central government is required to identify the causes and put in place solutions to prevent incidents arising and tackle the cumulative impact of ASB on individuals and communities. That partnership approach is evidenced in the work of policing and community safety partnerships (PCSPs). Those PCSPs are funded by my Department and the Policing Board, for which tackling ASB is a key strategic priority. PCSPs lead on my Department’s operational response to specific concerns at a local level. They work with designated partners, including local statutory bodies and agencies and the community and voluntary sector, to tackle actual and perceived ASB in our communities.”
“It is important that everyone who serves in the PSNI, whether as officers, part-time Reserve or members of staff, are properly remunerated for the work that they do and the risks that they take on our behalf. Ultimately, the Chief Constable, every arm's-length body and I as Minister all have to live within our budget. We strive to do so and to be responsible with public money, but we recognise that there are challenges. The part-time Reserve, and whether to strengthen it or reduce its complement, is a matter entirely for the Chief Constable and not for me as Justice Minister. I am, however, absolutely committed to those people, irrespective of which part of the PSNI they serve, being properly remunerated for the work that they do.”
“The budget allocation attributed to the PSNI part-time Reserve is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, who continues to be accountable to the Policing Board. It is important that I respect the operational independence of the Chief Constable and of the Policing Board.”
“I cannot anticipate what it will come forward with. Therefore, I cannot anticipate which Department would take it forward. Many of the structures that surround the tripartite arrangements for policing and justice are not devolved. They are part of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and would need to be dealt with at Westminster. Others are devolved to my Department. <BR /> <BR />I accept that, for some Members, it has been incredibly difficult to come to terms with the fact that I cannot answer questions on behalf of the police on operational matters. However, this is not an operational policing review. This is a review of the board and its relationships. It is entirely appropriate that it is done independently, but the report will also be presented to the board.”
“The key thing for me is that it is under way. The board is content with the terms of reference, and engagement with the panel has already commenced.”
“There are a number of things. First of all, when I came back in February, I reflected on the fact that the Policing Board had intended to take forward a review itself. I decided, on balance, that, to ensure that that was as independent as possible and could command as much public confidence as possible, it would be better for the sponsor Department — DOJ — to take that forward. We then had to look at the terms of reference of the review. Obviously, things have happened in the interim. As a result, the terms of reference needed to be slightly wider than originally anticipated. Finally, we had to find the correct people to take the review forward and to do it in a timely fashion. <BR /> <BR />That might sound like a lot of words to say that it was not as straightforward an issue as people perhaps expected it to be.”
“I am aware of the Member's concerns around the time frame, but I think that it is appropriate, given the scope of the review and the urgency of the report. If the independent reviewers consider that they need additional time, I will, of course, be open to considering that. <BR /> <BR />I am also aware that it is important to get results from this review and that we are able to look forward. From the point of view of the Policing Board and the Department, it is important that we try to keep the review short and tightly focused, dealing with the main issues that instigated it in the first place.”
“I will consider the findings and recommendations of the review in due course and publish the findings, as appropriate, following consultation with key stakeholders, including the Justice Committee.”
“It will make a significant impact in to the heritage and the environment.”
“The Prison Service is also working in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, RSPB and Woodland Trust to develop biodiversity action plans for each of our sites, because one thing that we do have is space and land. It is also playing a leading role in sustainability in prisons. An international conference was held in York on 24 and 25 September, to which Prison Service staff made contributions. <BR /> <BR />Finally, we have solar panels installed on several courthouses, including on Laganside. Most importantly, the modernisation of the Royal Courts of Justice project aspires to make the Royal Courts of Justice, a building of the same era as this one, the first fully decarbonised, grade A listed building in Northern Ireland. That includes refurbishment of the old town hall building when it reopens.”
“The Department's strategy covers the core Department and its agencies. Central to the delivery of the Department's strategy are the respective strategies of NICTS, the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the PSNI. They have their own goals and targets, and they are reported on separately. <BR /> <BR />The Department's agenda is progressed under three sustainability pillars: economic, social and environmental, each with its own supporting actions. Key to the delivery of the strategy was the establishment of that baseline year as 2021-22, so we can manage our energy consumption and measure it against that particular aspect. <BR /> <BR />We have some key initiatives in progress. The solar farm at Hydebank Wood is now operational and has the capacity to reduce electricity bills by up to £60,000 per year.”
“My Department is committed to delivering its responsibilities under the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and in supporting DAERA in the development of the first Northern Ireland climate action plan. While the Department of Justice is not a sectoral lead under the Act, we aim to contribute to the sectors of buildings, transport and energy. Our 2023 outline sustainability strategy sets out our goals and supporting actions to reduce our carbon footprint. For example, we have established 2021-22 as our baseline year for measuring our energy consumption and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. We have an active information programme in place to encourage behavioural change with our staff, both in the workplace and at home.”
“The Audit Office review has only been announced, so no update can be given on that. <BR /> <BR />With respect to the performance and whether it is effective, the chief commissioner specifically addressed performance matters in the Planning Appeals Commission and Water Appeals Commission (PACWAC) annual review for 2022-23. From the initial statistics prepared in advance of the chief commissioner's annual report 2023-24, performance continues to improve, with the commission's performance showing the highest increase in decisions over the past five years. The final report will be published later in the autumn, and, hopefully, Members will be pleased at the progress that is being made.”
“The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) has provided £500,000 of additional resourcing to the Planning Appeals Commission each year since 2021. NICTS officials continue to meet the PAC chief commissioner to consider any resourcing pressures, including vacant posts. At present, there is only one vacant post in the commission, which is due to be filled in January 2025. The Northern Ireland Audit Office has recently initiated a strategic review of the PAC. That will consider the overall role and function of the commission, the challenges that it currently faces and options available to improve performance and wider planning outcomes in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />We also need to work with people in the community, and one of the things that I have been doing since returning to office has been engaging with the business community and talking to its representatives about, first, the opportunities that exist in prisons to train people up for specific lines of work; secondly, the positives that come from employing people who have an offending background, because many of them are very grateful for the opportunity to get a job and very keen to make a contribution; and thirdly, how we can test with the business community where the key areas for new opportunities are so that we can then adapt our training. We need to be agile to ensure that, whatever we produce for the prison system, we are producing skills that are actually of value in the workplace.”
“It is very important that we do that. We are committed to ensuring that, when people leave prisons, they are rehabilitated in the truest sense in that their attitudes and their offending behaviour have been successfully challenged and changed, but we also need to ensure that they have skills to be able to seek employment post release. We are working on a series of skills academies where we can train people up in particular areas where we know there are job shortages and where prisoners may benefit from the additional skills training that we can provide in the prison system.”
“While we can offer general education to those prisoners and many will avail themselves of that, they will often avoid the kind of perpetrator and behaviour change programmes that, I think, are critical to successful rehabilitation, particularly in the space of violence against women and girls and domestic abuse.”
“We do have specific programmes to work with people who have offended, and those programmes are tailored to their offending behaviour. The Probation Board provides some of those schemes, and there are ones for perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse. One of the challenges that we face in the prison system at the minute is that many of the people are there on remand and therefore tend not to want to engage in programmes that are about challenging their offending behaviour, because most of them are still trying to maintain the position that they are not guilty ahead of their trial. That makes it very difficult.”
“However, most learners prefer a blended approach, so they like the human touch, and it is important that we get that balance right not only in access but in support.”
“As I said, there is a wide range of curriculum offer from essential skills such as numeracy and literacy to vocational skills ranging from barbering to bricklaying and employability skills, including soft skills such as writing CVs and interviewing techniques. We are also trying constantly to enhance the learning experience in line with what is offered in the community and to support future-proofing of that learning so that we can develop, for example, the use of digital technology with all the challenges that that presents in a prison system. <BR /> <BR />Plans are at an early stage, with a pilot due to commence shortly in Maghaberry to test the viability of virtual delivery across the prison estate, which may also enhance opportunities. That has the potential to maximise class numbers and expand the learning and skills curriculum.”
“The curriculum is kept under continuous review to respond to the changing needs of the prison population, emerging industries in the labour market and labour market shortages, including current and future skills gaps. <BR /> <BR />The provision of learning and skills is outsourced to our professional delivery partner, Belfast Met, which recently completed a substantive curriculum review that included the education provision at Magilligan. The recommendations from the review will be used to inform the strategic direction of learning and skills provision over the next five to 10 years and respond to the challenges presented by a rising prison population.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will answer questions 6 and 10 together. <BR /> <BR />The Northern Ireland Prison Service prioritises rehabilitation by supporting and challenging those in its care to change and address their offending behaviour. That includes providing opportunities through a wide and progressive curriculum for individuals to develop skills and attain qualifications that will give them the best chance to secure and sustain employment on release. The Prison Service offers a varied curriculum of accredited training from entry level to level 3 in educational, vocational and employability skills in addition to further education opportunities that have been designed to meet the diverse needs of the prison population.”
“It is important that we all take every possible opportunity to ensure that policing and justice are properly funded. I have the dual duty of ensuring that not only is policing properly funded but so too is the remainder of the justice system. There is no point in funding one at the expense of the other. That will not enhance victim confidence or confidence in the community. If people are arrested and then have to sit for five, six or seven years before they get to court, that will not help victims. It is important that, when I get resources into the Department of Justice, they are properly allocated in a balanced way to ensure that the entire system is able to function. At the moment, we do not have the resources to do that across the board.”
“One example is the cost of mutual aid in comparison with other forces across the UK. We cannot provide that as cheaply. That is one reason why we need to look at that, and the Department of Finance and my officials are working hard to raise it with Treasury in order to ensure that our situation is properly reflected on the basis of evidence around the higher needs-based factor, which, I believe, Northern Ireland should achieve.”
“Not very well. That would be the best way to describe it. In measuring need, they looked at the allocation that was made to the Department in 2017-18. By then, the ring-fencing of the Department's finances that had existed from 2010-14 had been removed and there had been a bit of a raid, I suppose, on the Department's finances. Rather than reflecting what we needed to run the Department and provide the services that we are required to provide, it reflected what we actually had to do that and the envelope within which we were working. <BR /> <BR />It is important to recognise that certain elements of policing and justice here, including their very nature, our geographical location and without any reference to special circumstances, require a higher level of investment.”
“My Department currently faces stabilisation pressures of £48 million. That projected potential overspend was reported to the Department of Finance as part of the recent in-year exercise. In addition, the Department faces exceptional pressures of £227 million in relation to legal claims for McCloud injury to feelings, data breach and holiday pay. Those costs are not affordable within my Department’s budget under any circumstance. <BR /> <BR />Whilst my Department has been proactive in taking actions over the last few years to ensure that we live within budget, we are now at the point where all options have been exhausted. Given the severity of the financial position and the demand-led nature of Justice expenditure, there is no scope for my Department to absorb the remaining level of pressures.”
“One of the strong things about the tackling paramilitarism programme is that we have found out what works to reduce harm in the context of paramilitary violence. There is an opportunity to apply that in other areas where we want to reduce harm.”
“First, I proposed that the Executive Office take forward the ending violence against women and girls strategy. It is not just a matter for Justice or policing; it is a matter for the whole Executive. Every Department has a role to play, whether that be Health, Education, Economy or Communities. We all have a role to play in ending violence against women and girls, which is much wider than the domestic and sexual violence and abuse on which Health and Justice take the lead. <BR /> <BR />It is important also that every strand in every Department has its own internal strategies to deal with those issues. It is important, however, that that is not about duplication; it is about learning from best practice.”
“From my perspective, the two are distinct. There are synergies, but the Minister of Health and I, whilst leading on the domestic and sexual violence and abuse strategy, are considering all victims, not only women and girls. We are also considering male victims of those issues. There are synergies, and we want to make the most of those.”
“That was a cross-departmental bid by the Department of Justice — it bid for the justice elements — and TEO. We will still have to deliver on the ending violence against women and girls framework. Obviously, significant parts of that will fall to my Department. However, the most important parts of that are now around early intervention. We have made many changes following the Gillen review to how the justice system responds to violence against women and girls, but there is still much work to be done in that space. I hope to address some of that in a victims Bill later in the mandate. <BR /> <BR />We will continue the work that is being done jointly between our Departments. It is important that we are not competing for the same resources when we work on ending violence against women and girls and on the domestic and sexual abuse strategy.”
“<BR /> <BR />Violence against women and girls and paramilitary violence are linked, and the new ending violence against women and girls strategy, the strategic framework and the draft Programme for Government, which was published this month, speak to the importance of addressing those issues. We recognise that violence does not happen in a vacuum and that violence against women and girls and ongoing paramilitary violence are linked. We now need to take this real opportunity to ensure that there is a comprehensive and joined-up response.”
“First, I commend Dr Swaine and Foyle Women's Aid for the important research that was produced on the topic of paramilitary-related gendered coercive control. I was pleased to be at the launch of that report to signal my clear support for the work that is being done on the subject. The research was timely and important. It provides real insight into the experience of women who have faced paramilitary-related gendered coercive control. The report and the testimonies of victims and survivors makes for harrowing and sobering reading. Those women have faced horrendous physical and sexual harm, including threats, surveillance and displacement and in relationships where they should have felt safe.”
“All types of violence are linked, and we know that there is still much to do to support women who face paramilitary harm. It is completely and unequivocally unacceptable. At ministerial and official level, we are in close and regular contact with those delivering the ending violence against women and girls strategy and the domestic and sexual abuse strategy. It is essential to see those as complementary efforts that work together to support those who continue to face harm but also ensure that we prevent this happening in the first place.”
“However, it is sad that, at times, when Members get up in the Chamber, they do not acknowledge that when they are talking about levels of absenteeism, injury and sickness but make spurious claims about the high levels of absenteeism without recognising that our absenteeism in DOJ reflects the number of people who are deployed in Prison Service.”
“Review of Northern Ireland Civil Service HR would be a matter for the Department of Finance, not the Department of Justice. However, I have done work to try to add support for prison officers. For example, serving and former officers now have the opportunity to avail themselves of the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust (PRRT) and its facilities. We have also put in the "Prison's Well" system and provided well-being hubs at the prisons. There is considerable work going on to support prison officers in what is an increasingly complex job. <BR /> <BR />We also have already discussed issues with respect to the HR issues around prison officers and the fact that many prison officers feel that their jobs are distinct and different from many of the others in the Civil Service.”
“I have learned in this job never to say, "Never", but, at the moment, we are not in that situation. We currently have adequate capacity in our prisons for prisoners to serve the entirety of their sentence. We also have adequate staff, so we are not in an overcrowded situation. However, I am conscious that the numbers are significantly higher than was anticipated with the current complement of prison officers, and that is one of the reasons why we are going out to recruitment. In order to keep people safe and ensure that the regime operates effectively, it is important that we have the prisons properly staffed, and the new custody prison officer recruitment will go a long way to help that.”
“The Prison Service requires the resources that it needs to keep people who live and work in prisons safe and secure and to support the rehabilitation and resettlement into the community of people in its care. Earlier this year, the Prison Service reviewed its operational staffing levels due to the significant and sustained increase in prisoner population. In keeping with the findings of that review, I agreed to an increase in the Prison Service's staffing complement of 75 prison officers. The Prison Service is currently working with NI Civil Service (NICS) HR partners to confirm recruitment arrangements for a custody prison officer campaign that will launch in October.”
“Water is not only essential for all living things to survive; access to water, its quality and its management are essential elements of ensuring that people, communities and our economy can thrive. Our rivers, loughs and coastal waterways are vital for drinking, work, sport, recreation and tourism. They need to be carefully and sensitively managed and protected. My colleague is committed to that, and I hope that Members are reassured by the response today.”
“<BR /> <BR />Since Minister Muir's appointment, he has been clear that significant action also needs to be taken to address poor water quality in Northern Ireland generally. The difficulties experienced through blue-green algal blooms demonstrate our reliance on and connection with the aquatic environment. Improvements in water quality will require us all to limit the pressures that we place on that environment. They will also help us combat the risks of pollution and future harmful algae blooms. Everyone can play their part in achieving that. DAERA will continue to support and collaborate with all stakeholders and initiatives to reduce nutrient impacts on the water environment, be that in Lough Neagh, Lough Erne or any of our rivers and coastal waters. <BR /> <BR />Leonardo Da Vinci said:”
“We have to start by trying to avoid pollution incidents in the first place and mitigating the impact. Where we do not find that change happening, it is important that we have an enforcement process that is fit for purpose and fair in its approach. It is clear that the Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency will not hesitate to take enforcement action, and it is important that a robust, fair, proportionate and targeted enforcement regime is there to act as a deterrent and to champion the "polluter pays principle". I know that Minister Muir is committed to delivering that. He is working with my officials in the Department of Justice to ensure that it is indeed proportionate.”
“<BR /> <BR />The main actions from the Lough Neagh action plan also promote a framework that focuses on four key pillars, which could apply equally to Lough Erne. The first is education, which involves empowering people with knowledge and skills and encouraging best practice. The second is investment, incentivisation and innovation aimed at motivating people and through funding actions that will drive the adoption of behavioural change. The third is regulation. The statutory obligation to protect the quality of our water has to be enforced at a statutory level. The final pillar — enforcement — is important. We have to take strong, meaningful action when compliance with the regulations fails. <BR /> <BR />That sequencing reflects the importance of early intervention.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department has also launched phase 1 of its blue-green algae small business research initiative (SBRI), which is being driven and developed to explore potential solutions to treat and reduce blue-green algae blooms without impacting the natural environment of Lough Neagh and associated Northern Ireland waterways. The outcome of that initiative will inform mitigation measures that may be transferable to other water bodies across Northern Ireland such as Lough Erne. More fundamental research that complements the SBRI is being commissioned by DAERA from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, including a project that focuses on in-lake nutrient recovery management options, which is a really important step forward.”
“Replacing that infrastructure, however, requires consistent and sustained investment in our water network. We look at how that is funded in the price control period. The waste water reform programme is funded in full for the remainder of the price control period from 2021 to 2027 — PC21, and into the next price control period from 2027 to 2033. If we do not have sustained investment, we will not be able to cope with the changes that are required in our network, and, critically, we will not be able to develop key areas in a safe and environmentally sustainable way.”
“As I said, although I am acting on behalf of Minister Muir, I understand the challenges in that space. Part of my work for a very long time as an engineer was about looking at the operation of combined sewer overflows. With rainfall patterns changing — rainfall is changing in duration and intensity — storms that were statistically one-in-100-year events now happen multiple times in one year. Whilst the sewage released in the overflows is dilute by design, it nevertheless will build up the nutrient level in the water, if it happens repeatedly. That is a significant issue.”
“He is on record as stating that the situation in which Northern Ireland Water gets, essentially, a bye ball for the pollution of waterways needs to end. Pollution, irrespective of the source, should follow the "polluter pays principle". There needs to be fairness. That speaks very much to what Mrs Erskine said about not demonising any particular sector. <BR /> <BR />We need to acknowledge that we have a water quality problem, but we also need to fund interventions to fix those issues; otherwise, the problems with blue-green algae will continue. Minister Muir has recognised that Northern Ireland's waste water infrastructure has suffered from long-term underfunding and that significant infrastructural improvements are required to meet current and future environmental standards.”
“It is important that people engage in that, as it is a key tool to deal with water quality issues right across Northern Ireland, including in Lough Erne, and to ensure that the learning that the Department is able to glean from Lough Neagh can then be applied across other bodies of water. <BR /> <BR />Minister Muir is also aware of the concerns about Northern Ireland Water and the arrangements in place that are known as SORPI — the statement of regulatory principles and intent — between the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Northern Ireland Water. Mrs Erskine raised the issue in her contribution. SORPI is under review because the arrangement is not fit for purpose. Minister Muir plans to engage with the Minister for Infrastructure on the issue, and he has already been engaging with his own officials in that regard.”
“A review of the nutrient action programme that is under way is also considering associated recommendations from the Lough Neagh action plan. It is envisaged that the outcome of the review will be published in November, along with a consultation on the proposed action programme for the next four years and the strategic environmental assessment report. It is envisaged that all measures in the current action programme will be retained for the next programme. It is also clear from water quality data and scientific evidence that additional measures will be needed. Although the nutrient action plan is long established, we need to ensure that there is full implementation at farm level and improved compliance.”
“We also know that excess nutrients in the environment cause pollution in our waterways and that the main contributing sources are agriculture and, to a lesser but still significant extent, waste water from treatment works and septic tanks. A scientific report from October 2020, 'Phosphorous Stock and Flows in the Northern Ireland Flood System', which is on the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute website, attributes high nutrient phosphorous levels in Northern Ireland's water bodies to three main sources: around 62% comes from agriculture, 24% from waste water treatment works and 12% from septic tanks. You can see that the breakdown has remained fairly static. <BR /> <BR />We need to do more to reduce the overall phosphorous surplus in the Northern Ireland agriculture system.”