Stewart Dickson
East Antrim · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Minister, you will have noted that the Government recently announced a VAT cut for some family expenses for a range of activities over the summer. That is perhaps a change.”
“Many do not know how to apply; others do not even realise that the opportunities exist. If the process itself is a barrier to participation, it is really not open to all.”
“I was born in 1950 in Thorndale House, which was one of the homes that is named in the legislation. I was born to married parents, and Thorndale House was a maternity home. It was where you went to have your baby in 1950 on the Antrim Road. My mum and dad went there, I was born and, a few days later, I left with loving parents.”
“I agree with Mr Brett: amendment No 6 is important because it will deal with persons who refuse to provide information or evidence to the inquiry. Amendment No 8 to clause 20 is a tidying-up amendment that will allow the Committee to make interim reports, which will be of benefit to the inquiry process.”
“That is why I want the inquiry to succeed and why it is vital that it succeeds. That is why it is important for us to see that cruelty in the full glare of a public inquiry. That is why it is important that the scheme goes through without further delay. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I place on record my thanks to the Committee Chair.”
“The Assembly faces stark choices, and agreeing the draft Budget as it stands is not a silver bullet, nor is it sustainable for us to continue in the absence of a Budget. It is vital, therefore, that we break the cycle of crisis and collapse that has been destroying our public finances.”
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“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. It is certainly welcome, particularly as you say that it will assist those who fall short of qualifying for pension credit. What action are you taking to tackle the broad issue of fuel poverty? Bearing in mind that giving £100 to pensioners in Northern Ireland, including those who do not actually need that payment, is a scattergun approach, when will you tackle fuel poverty, Minister?”
“Minister, are you prepared to give an apology to the passengers who were unable to get trains on Friday evening due to the volume of traffic, at both the Northern Ireland international football match and the Belfast Christmas market at the City Hall? Will you issue an apology on behalf of Translink to those commuters, who were left distressed at railway stations and on the tracks waiting for trains to go to and through Grand Central railway station?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. Given your — indeed, our party's — clear and unequivocal stated commitment to tackling climate change, will you set out the rationale for your decision to appeal the judgement that was handed down by the Court of Appeal in respect of the No Gas Caverns case in order to allay any concerns that are being expressed by the No Gas Caverns campaign, which I and my East Antrim colleague Danny Donnelly wholeheartedly support?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. You will be aware that the independent review of education recommended the creation of a single managing authority: what action are you taking to bring that about in this mandate?”
“Minister, thank you for your answers so far on the statement. One of the issues that could not be dealt with in the statement is your negotiations with Treasury on the PSNI data breach, holiday pay and the McCloud judgement. Can you tell the House what action you are taking to ensure that those matters will not impinge on future Assembly Budgets?”
“Anna left here in 2016. She retired from active politics but always kept her passions and interests alive. She was a talented artist. If Members have the opportunity to look at Facebook and elsewhere where you can see some of her art, they will find it absolutely incredible. I am just sorry that I did not have the opportunity to get some of her wonderful art. <BR /> <BR />Today, I add my words of condolence and sympathy to her family, her wider family circle and all her Alliance Party colleagues, as well as to those constituents in South Belfast who will forever remember Anna Lo.”
“She stood in the European election in 2014, and, as a party officer, I had a lot of time to spend with her, campaigning and going with her as she went to various events and knocked doors across Northern Ireland. That election had all the hallmarks of a Northern Ireland election from its highs to its appalling lows and to the way in which Anna was treated quite often not only in the press but by her political opponents. I will never forget some of the horrible times that she went through, but Anna had a resilience and that wonderful smile, and she just pushed on in everything that she did. However, I know personally that those attacks took a toll on her.”
“I first met Anna before I knew of her involvement in the politics of the Alliance Party in Northern Ireland. I met her when she was working for the Chinese Welfare Association and I was providing employment documentation support on behalf of the Labour Relations Agency to that organisation. There was definitely a ray of sunshine in that room and in those meetings that I had with her. <BR /> <BR />Anna joined the Alliance Party, and, as our leader said, in a whirlwind was selected to be a candidate and got elected to the Assembly in 2007. She was here until 2016. I joined her in the Assembly in 2011 and was proud to do so. We were a small team at that time, very close-knit and working very closely together in the roles and responsibilities that we had in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />Anna was a friend and a champion of all that she stood for.”
“That has to be taken into account by other Committees as they go forward, but, for today, the focus is on the extension of the Committee Stage of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />While there may well be arguments for saying that we should or could set a shorter time frame, I am content with the time frame that has been set and with the intent that if we can complete the work more effectively and efficiently sooner, we will do so. I am happy to accept the proposal from the Committee Chair on the time frame for the extension of the Committee Stage of the Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />Overlapping the Bill is, as the Chair referenced, the High Court decision and the focus that it has placed on the scrutiny role not only of Committees but of the House. Therefore, it will be interesting to see the outworking of that, as we are probably the first Committee on which that will have a major effect. I think that is worth pointing that out to other Committees, Ministers and Departments, as it will be interesting to see its effects on them. The Justice Committee has been in the depths of the consideration of that, and, despite my having asked, on a number of occasions, officials and others who have come to the Committee how they perceive the effect of the High Court judgement on the work of the Assembly, I am not sure about it.”
“It is also important to remember that delays may impact on protections intended for victims and vulnerable communities, who look to us for support. With that in mind, I encourage my Committee colleagues to work thoroughly and expeditiously to balance the need for detailed review with the urgency that our justice system requires. I will hold the Chair to the view that she has given today that she intends to ensure that the Committee works effectively and efficiently through this and that, if we can conclude the Committee Stage earlier, that is exactly what we will do. There will be no foot-dragging and no delay. I am heartened by the words that she given to the House today, and I look forward to working with her and others to deliver the Bill.”
“If that requires the Committee to put in extra time other than Thursday afternoons, that is what the Committee will have to do, if we are to take at face value the Chair's words today.”
“The Minister has told us that she intends to introduce other legislation. The Chair has made the point that overlapping will be difficult but doable and that it is the Committee's intent to achieve it. Processing this Bill promptly will help to avoid those difficulties. That will require a number of players to come together and genuinely deliver: it will be for the external people who will come to us with their view on the Bill; it will be for the Department to be efficient in the way in which it delivers its responses to all the scrutiny; and it will be for the Committee in the way in which it works.”
“<BR /> <BR />Some Committee colleagues have voiced concerns about the breadth of the amendments anticipated at Consideration Stage, but it is worth noting that, while the Bill is wide in scope, many of its provisions are specific and address essential areas such as sentencing and victim protection. The Bill is indeed broad, but it is manageable within the Committee's framework. The Chair has indicated that that is the task of a Committee. That is what we are here for; that is the job that we have been given to do and that we will do. <BR /> <BR />The proposal for the extension creates the real possibility that, if we were to maximise the time, the Bill could be postponed until 2026. Such a delay would not only hinder justice itself but affect other critical legislation. That has been referred to in the debate already.”
“The Minister has given a strong indication to the Committee and the House that that is exactly what she intends to do. The policy intent of the Bill is clear. We have already got one section of amendments. The Minister will, I am sure, deal with that aspect in her comments, but I have no fear that the Minister and the departmental officials will bring those forward, as has been indicated. <BR /> <BR />The core of the Bill is clear and focused. The technicalities that have been referred to are at or near completion, allowing us to move forward efficiently without compromising the quality of our review. We are cognisant of the need to follow the requirements of the High Court judgement with regard to the quality of our work, both in how we scrutinise the policy intent of the Bill and in the clause-by-clause requirements placed on us.”
“I and the Alliance Party fully support the need for that careful oversight. While the discussion is inevitably around the extension of the Committee Stage to near enough its maximum, I welcome the Chair's comments, which I take at face value, that the Committee will put its efforts into the scrutiny of the Bill and, if we are finished early as a Committee, we will be finished early. I certainly —”
“In considering the extension, a careful balance needs to be struck between the thorough scrutiny and the timely progress needed for effective legislation, much as was reflected in the Committee Chair's comments. While I recognise the Justice Committee's valid concerns regarding the time required for proper review, we need to remember that the Bill is part — the Chair alluded to this — of a broader strategy to strengthen our justice system within the tight time frame that we have left in the mandate, together with legislation that, the Minister has indicated, she intends to bring forward in the future. That legislation is vital to the House but much more so to the citizens whom it will affect. <BR /> <BR />The Committee's role is to scrutinise the Bill, and, of course, that is essential.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. I appreciate that you have made some progress. Nevertheless, when you launched the project in May of this year, you did promise that an application process would be completed by the end of this year. Where are you with physical application forms for people?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does the Minister agree that the separation of grey and foul water is an important aspect in the development of that infrastructure?”
“<BR /> <BR />I urge the Assembly to support the order and to prioritise the timely passage of the Justice Bill to ensure that there is a fairer and more accessible justice system for all.”
“I support the extension of the provisions. They are essential for the efficient and modern delivery of our public services, particularly in the courts. Live link facilities have significantly improved access to our courts, allowing vulnerable individuals, as others have said, to participate without facing the added distress of in-person attendance. However, as has been noted, it is a temporary measure. It is essential, but it is a temporary measure. The Justice Minister's forthcoming Bill will provide a permanent and comprehensive framework for the provisions, embedding them into our justice system for the long term. It is, therefore, crucial that the Bill passes through the House with due speed, ensuring that the vital reforms are secured and established.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. The Budget is certainly a curate's egg: it has been good for working people but, perhaps, difficult for businesses and, particularly, for the Assembly. The Minister has acknowledged that the Department of Justice has been underfunded for a number of years. While the Budget settlement can improve the budget for the DOJ, what action has she been taking with Treasury officials to secure funding for McCloud and the data breach? Clearly, neither of those can be fulfilled with the current budget.”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. Commentary around the Burgess report has already been made today in your statement and in questions. Can you set out for the House your intentions on the potential publication date and the next steps for the Burgess report?”
“<BR /> <BR />I appreciate that we share the goal of holding those convicted of animal cruelty to account and preventing reoffending, but we need to recognise the legal and practical challenges of having a register as proposed. Instead of offering unrealistic promises, it would be helpful if the Assembly could focus on practical steps that strengthen our animal welfare laws, ensuring that they are enforceable and effective and make a real difference.”
“Setting up and maintaining a register would require considerable resources, so, while we can support the further exploration of the idea, it would be somewhat misleading to suggest that a register could be implemented quickly or easily. <BR /> <BR />Despite the challenges, the Alliance Party remains committed to improving animal welfare. Indeed, under the leadership of our Minister at DAERA, Andrew Muir, we have made significant progress in tackling issues such as the illegal breeding and smuggling of puppies. We have also recognised the need for stronger protections and better enforcement, especially when it comes to preventing reoffending by those convicted of cruelty.”
“The fact that only 12% of those convicted of animal welfare offences in Northern Ireland between 2018 and 2022 received custodial sentences is a stark reminder that much more needs to be done. However, we must be realistic about how we can address the issue. A register of animal welfare offenders may seem like an appealing solution, but it raises significant legal concerns. The most pressing of those relates to data protection. Any register that contains personal information about convicted individuals must comply with strict regulations, including GDPR. Legal advice indicates that establishing such a register, especially one that is accessible to third parties such as charities or pet retailers, could conflict with current data protection laws. <BR /> <BR />In addition to the legal challenges, the financial implications are substantial.”
“As someone who has had the sad duty to report a number of animal cruelty cases in my elected lifetime, I believe that there is no question that those who commit acts of cruelty against animals should be fully accountable for their actions. However, while the intention behind the motion is commendable, we have to approach it with a clear understanding of the complexities that it presents. <BR /> <BR />At the motion's core is a shared desire to ensure that individuals convicted of animal cruelty are prevented from reoffending. I wholly concur with and support that sentiment. Once someone has been demonstrated to be a danger to animals, they should never again be allowed to own or care for them. I recognise that the current system has shortcomings.”
“Minister, it was probably surprising that the existing kitchen facilities were not blown away in the recent storm. Is it not important, particularly given the role of Magilligan prison in rehabilitation and training, that the facilities train people for jobs and life?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, do you accept that the delay in progressing the project causes serious environmental issues at various bottlenecks and economic delays for constituents in East Antrim in particular, and that it restricts the future and enhanced use of the Belfast-Derry and Belfast-Larne railway lines and the potential for a Belfast International Airport railway connection?”
“Minister, social enterprises and the broader social and economic community have an important role to play in regenerating our communities, particularly in building social capital. Will you update the House on your review of the scoring of social-value policy?”
“Thank you, Minister. In addition to your discussions with the Finance and Infrastructure Departments, what work have you been undertaking with local authorities to advance the improvement of our planning system?”
“I am sure that the Minister will agree that libraries are much more than just bricks and mortar and that a lot of excellent community and other activities take place there. Can the Minister assure the House that, given the United Kingdom Government's failure to provide pensioners with warm homes this winter, libraries can also be used as warm spaces?”
“All constituencies suffer from the challenges that high streets have, none less so than East Antrim in the town centres of Carrickfergus and Larne. What learning points has the Executive Office taken from the report? How will its recommendations be delivered?”
“Just to reflect on the comments about the areas that we have not fully fleshed out at this point, I say strongly today that we will take every opportunity in the Committee to not only work through that when it comes to the call for evidence but scrutinise, line by line, the text of the legislation as presented. I urge all Members in the Chamber to support the Bill's Second Stage and its core principles, as set out by the Minister. I look forward to subsequent debates on the Bill as it progresses through its further stages.”
“Likewise, it addresses the need for reforms to the legal aid system and establishes long-overdue effective financial controls over payments, which were outlined as far back as 2011 and by the Assembly's Public Accounts Committee in 2016. As the Minister said, if the Department is paying, it should be responsible for scrutinising those payments. <BR /> <BR />The Bill balances the public rights of individuals and the demands of modern justice. It is has been shaped by careful thought, the lessons of the past and a clear vision for the future of our justice system in Northern Ireland. As a member of the Justice Committee, I look forward to engaging fully, scrutinising the Bill and listening to those who come forward during the call for evidence to ensure that each provision in the Bill operates as intended.”
“Indeed, the Committee has already had an excellent opportunity to visit one of the live link centres in Belfast. Following that visit, all members had a good opportunity to get an understanding of the background to the technology. We look forward to exploring that issue further. <BR /> <BR />The Bill also helps to close some gaps in the law. It addresses several important legal gaps, including amendments to the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. That will prevent charges of murder or manslaughter from being prematurely dismissed under the "no bill" procedure when they are linked to the death of a child or a vulnerable adult. That change is crucial to ensuring that the justice system remains robust.”
“We look forward to finding out more about that. I care deeply about prioritising the rehabilitation and welfare of young people in our youth justice system, and the Bill certainly takes an important step forward in that direction. <BR /> <BR />The Bill also addresses some technological advances and efficiencies. It reflects the reality of our increasingly digitalised world by introducing provisions for the use of live links, as others have said, not only in police interviews but in court proceedings. That is a practical step forward and will make our justice system more efficient by reducing the need for physical presence in courtrooms or custody suites. However, I am glad that the Bill acknowledges the need for safeguards, particularly for vulnerable individuals.”
“I wholeheartedly believe that it is a good fit for Northern Ireland. We look forward to hearing, during the call for evidence, from the organisations that will help us to ensure that it stands the test of time. <BR /> <BR />The Bill also addresses areas of youth justice reform. Beyond biometrics, it introduces significant reform in how we treat young people in our criminal justice system. It strengthens the presumption of bail for children, ensuring that they are detained only as a last appropriate resort. Importantly, it removes the troubling practice of detaining children due to a lack of suitable accommodation. We look forward to seeing how a number of the pilot schemes that are already under way can be developed. In Committee, we heard about how some of those new, innovative pilot schemes are operating to address the matter.”
“We will hopefully end up with a creative solution that pays close attention to Northern Ireland's unique needs and that also builds on the lessons learned from Scotland and on insights from England and Wales. The Bill recognises the importance of balancing the use of biometric data in tackling crime with the protection of individual rights, as highlighted by the European Court of Human Rights. The Bill steps away from indefinite retention periods, which were ruled problematic in a number of court judgements, and instead adopts a more proportionate approach, allowing for varying retention periods based on factors such as age and criminal history. That model strikes an appropriate balance between the need to use biometric data effectively and the individual's right to privacy.”
“The Minister will undoubtedly address the Member's comments in her summing-up of the Second Stage debate, but I am certainly reassured by the actions of the Minister and her officials who presented the case for doing it that way to the Committee. We will work diligently through all the things that have been given to us. I will be honest and say this as well: where there are things that we wish to challenge or that I wish to challenge, that will happen. That is the role of a Committee of the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />One of the Bill's key components is a new framework for the retention a biometric data, a subject that has generated a great deal of discussion already not just in Northern Ireland but across the United Kingdom.”
“No. Every Member who has spoken has listed the six additional areas that, the Minister has indicated to the Committee through her officials, she will bring forward. All six areas are within the Bill's policy intent. When the Committee goes out to consultation to stakeholders, who will want to come before the Committee, they will have an opportunity to address those areas. As the departmental officials indicated strongly and strenuously no later than last week to the Committee, they will bring forward the dedicated amendments as soon and as practically as possible so that they are available to us. There will be no holding back, certainly not as far as Consideration Stage.”
“To ensure the delivery of all necessary justice Bills in this mandate, however, that scrutiny has to be done in a proper and timely fashion. By way of comparison with my previous experience of navigating a justice Bill through the House, I will say that, while it presents its challenges, the Bill is compact, and we will be able to work our way through all its provisions. <BR /> <BR />I now turn to those provisions, the first of which is biometric data retention. What is being proposed in the —.”
“We are considering the Second Stage of the Justice Bill, which is crucial and wide-ranging legislation that seeks to address some of the more significant challenges in our justice system. First, I take the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication not only of the Minister of Justice but of all her officials who have worked and are working on the Bill and will continue to work with us in Committee by bringing us information on the Bill. An amazing amount of effort has gone into the Bill so far to ensure that each of its aspects is carefully considered, and that is a task that we will continue to do in Committee. <BR /> <BR />As a member of the Committee, I look forward to fully engaging in scrutiny of the Bill at Committee Stage to ensure that each of its provisions operates as intended.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. My question is less about waiting lists than the expansion of breast cancer screening programmes, specifically to enable earlier, more frequent access for those who are at higher risk, especially those with a genetic predisposition or other elevated risk factors.”
“Many of those will be specialist areas, and those who come forward to give evidence will know fully the background to the issues that are being dealt with, even the areas that are not fully fleshed out at this point. The Committee is perhaps over-egging the pudding today about just exactly —.”
“Thank you. Does the Member accept that this is not a particularly novel approach to how we deal with such Bills and that we have dealt with this before? Certainly, I have had that experience on the Justice Committee and have dealt with Bills in this way. There are members who are new to the Committee who, maybe, feel that they cannot cope with all that is being brought in front of them, but I hope that they will. We have excellent officials in the Committee and in the Department who will bring forward the issues for us, as we progress through it. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to how we will call for evidence on all this, we know the policy areas that are to be covered.”
“Mental health pathways are vital, particularly for those in prison who have mental health needs. Will the Minister describe what happens once they have left prison and how they are reconnected with community mental health services?”
“Minister, I particularly welcome the review of education services by Belfast Met. Can you assure the House that that will not only future-proof those courses but will look at how we broaden the type of education service that can be provided to prisoners?”
“Minister, when measuring success, we need to understand how that measurement will be done. How will you measure the success, by the end of this mandate, of that globally competitive economy for Northern Ireland?”
“I hear what the Member says about the Minister's responsibility. Will she explain how her party is supporting the PSNI, which she has said, loudly and proudly in the Chamber, it does. What action has her party's Ministers taken in the Executive to deliver that funding for the PSNI?”