Sandra Overend
Mid Ulster · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“My thoughts are with the Black family, who have been put into the public eye once again due to the failings of the judicial system, the very system in which David served so faithfully.”
“On this, the last day the Assembly will meet in this place, I thank my colleague Mr Doug Beattie for proposing this important motion. I express my deep concern and share the anger of many people from my constituency of Mid Ulster at the management of the bail conditions for the man who was charged with offences linked to the terrorist mur…”
“<BR /> <BR />There is an argument that suspects have an entitlement to bail due to the length of time that they spend on remand. However, the answer to that must be to speed up the process of administering justice and not to grant bail in such cases.”
“It emerged that, having failed to sign in with police on 18 November, it was not until 23 December when police called at his bail address that they found the flat had been cleared out, and, in fact, evidence suggested he had been gone a few weeks by that stage.”
“To allow this type of situation to occur once could be seen as being careless. For it to happen twice in the same year is clear evidence of a culture that needs to change and of a policy that needs to change. Bail is seemingly too easily given out and not stringently enough managed.”
“I thank the Minister for that. I wonder whether he is optimistic that he will deliver that programme in the days that remain, given the fact that clubs have been waiting since last March, when the consultation process ended. An announcement was promised before Christmas. How confident is he that there will be something for local clubs?”
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“I thank the junior Minister for his answer. The Department will not be surprised to hear that I am pressing it again on the Internet safety strategy, considering that I have been on its back about it since autumn 2012. Surely the Ministers in OFMDFM and the Minister of Health can come to some sort of agreement sooner rather than later and allocate whatever amount of money needs to be given to the Safeguarding Board for the draft strategy and for it to get on with the job. Can the Minister indicate a time frame, and can he indicate how much money is needed to progress the strategy?”
“Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, it is my understanding that this plan has been on the cards for some 10 to 14 years and, therefore, has largely lost some of its relevance, especially considering the reform of local government and the change in boundaries. Can the Minister explain his rationale as to why the BMAP was not updated to reflect the new area plan boundaries?”
“It is 40 years since the beginning of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and only last year did we have the establishment of the Mid-Ulster Victim Empowerment group, which aims to support the victims of terrorism across the constituency. However, in what is only its first full year of running, it is dealing with a severe cut to its budget. What can the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister do to reassure the victims of terrorism in Mid Ulster that their needs will not be forgotten but instead be supported for quite some time to come?”