Joanne Bunting
East Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Their input was instrumental in shaping the Bill that the Assembly will shortly be invited to pass. <BR /> <BR />For those affected by the mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and related pathways and practices, the process has taken too long, but we can be pleased that we got there, for the victims' sakes.”
“It is still cruel, disheartening and difficult to fully comprehend. I hope that the experiences of the many women who were affected by those institutions and practices will serve as a challenge to us all.”
“We thank all who participated in the Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum. We know that that has not always been an easy space, but we hope that, today, they can reflect on all their efforts with pride.”
“<BR /> <BR />To victims and survivors considering whether to engage with the redress service, I send an unequivocal message: the scheme exists because your experiences matter, and you need not face the process alone.”
“<BR /> <BR />Of course, the experience did not end with the institution itself; rather, for the victims and survivors — those women and children — the period has been a thread of pain that has woven its way through their entire lives.”
“It is not an exaggeration to say that today is a momentous day. It is an honour and a privilege for me to move the Final Stage of this important legislation on behalf of the First Minister and the deputy first Minister, junior Minister Reilly and, indeed, the Executive.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,152 lines we hold for Joanne Bunting, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 24.
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. As you said, I will speak on the motion as Chair of the Committee for Justice. I declare that I have an immediate family member who works in the legal profession. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has outlined the purpose and detail of the LCM, so I will focus on the Committee's approach to it. Having initially been advised by the Minister in January that His Majesty's Government intended to introduce the Crime and Policing Bill, and that it was highly likely that she would be seeking the Committee's agreement to the laying of an LCM, we asked the Department to provide us with details of the measures in the Bill that it had been informed or had anticipated would apply to Northern Ireland, including those for which legislative consent may be required.”
“However, will the Minister outline why she is seeking to, in her words, align the victim and witness charters with the Republic rather than the UK?”
“It is clear that good work is being done, which should ensure that past mistakes, where criminals fled across the border to sanctuary, are no longer happening and that the border is no longer a hindrance for law enforcement. Given the nature of crime, it makes sense that there would be shared learning and practical cooperation with the South.”
“Mr Speaker, may I ask the Minister to give way?”
“I am grateful for that answer. I would be grateful if the Minister were to look into the issue, because we hear that more detained persons are being sent to hospital now than prior to the scheme and that, apparently, the medical staff present in custody suites will not help police officers who suffer minor injuries in the course of their duties. For example, they are being refused help if they have been cut or spat at. If that is the case, perhaps, when looking into the issue, the Minister would consider whether that is acceptable. What is his assessment of that, should it be the position?”
“Mr Speaker, I express my condolences to Deputy Speaker Blair. I have been in that position, and it is very tragic and difficult to deal with, so I send him my very best wishes.”
“I am nearly finished, Eóin; I am sorry. <BR /> <BR />Now is the time for wisdom, fiscal prudence, common sense and effective and efficient stewardship of the taxpayers' hard-earned funds.”
“Hence, I want to be clear that my view and that of the DUP is that now is not the time for wasteful spending on niche and pet projects to pursue political agendas. Rather, now is the time to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland have access to the fundamentals and basics — the services that they need and use — and that everything that is taken forward and every penny that is spent is for the benefit of all and not the few.”
“As it stands, and through no fault or desire of the sector, there is little job stability; difficulty securing credit for mortgages and loans etc; and employees regularly end up being put on notice and/or spending a great deal of their time chasing funding rather than on focusing on the projects that they are seeking to deliver. That perpetual state of instability is no way to live. Given the extent to which government relies on the sector, we must do better for the service provider and for the sake of service users. <BR /> <BR />I am acutely conscious that we must provide value for taxpayers' money at every level and cut our cloth accordingly. We have repeatedly been made aware of the consequences for future funding allocations should we not do so.”
“If that cannot be managed within one Department, how do we expect more efficient and effective cross-departmental working, which is fundamental to success, between Health and Justice particularly? Moreover, given that the Department is flagging that it may be required to cut services, we must be careful what we choose to add to the statute books. <BR /> <BR />The prospect of three-year Budget cycles is welcome. They should provide much greater stability for organisations and people. Annual Budgets are far from ideal for those in the community and voluntary sector. Three-year Budgets should afford them the ability to properly financially plan.”
“It was clear that, whilst good work is being undertaken, the Department and its bodies are not necessarily pulling in one direction and with one purpose. Silo working is a problem, but not just within the justice system or Justice Department. CJINI highlighted the lack of a collectively agreed vision and strategic priorities shared by the DOJ and key criminal justice organisations. In these times of considerable financial constraints, it is imperative that that be rectified as quickly as possible. The Department and its branches must pull in one direction, and priorities should be aligned and in keeping with the agreed Programme for Government. Collaboration will be key to efficiency.”
“Already, our communities are feeling the impact of fewer officers and a reduced presence, particularly in neighbourhood policing, which I know the police have striven to protect as much as possible. However, the reduced numbers are now being felt acutely, internally and externally. It is imperative that that does not result in a diminution of confidence in the police, in the justice system and, importantly, in the public's willingness to contact the police about crime. <BR /> <BR />Recently, the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) was in front of the Committee to brief us and outline progress on its November 2024 report, 'Transforming the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland: A Strategic Overview'. It is one of the most damning reports that I have ever read.”
“We need to invest in preventative and deterrent measures to stop people offending and the revolving door of reoffending; to reform legal aid; to reduce the time taken, both for payment and for cases to move through the justice system; and to improve access to justice, particularly for the most vulnerable in our society. In short, we need to invest properly and wisely. <BR /> <BR />I will now speak in my capacity as an individual MLA. As the DUP's justice spokesperson, I emphasise our support for the PSNI's call for additional resources. There can be no question that the Chief Constable should not have to choose between his legal requirements to keep people safe from harm and his legal obligations, as accounting officer, to balance the budget.”
“The Committee previously heard that that would at least allow the Department and its justice delivery partners to commit to longer-term planning and may help with efficiencies. We all appreciate that the budgetary position is difficult across all Departments, but more needs to be done if we wish to address the long-term and sometimes critical pressures affecting the justice system. We need to equip the PSNI with adequate staffing and resources to keep our population safe and to increase confidence in policing. We need to put more resources into fixing our overcrowded prisons and crumbling justice estate.”
“We will explore that further with the Department, but it is a position that gives rise to concern, especially when we know that the justice system needs more investment. <BR /> <BR />This Budget (No. 2) Bill is about the year ahead, but I want to touch briefly on the provisional outturn for the past year, which has been included in our papers for this week's meeting. The Department had an underspend of £3·02 million, which equates to just 0·23% of its resource budget. The capital underspend was slightly higher, at 3·15%. Overall, however, that illustrates just how tightly the Department manages its budget and how little room for manoeuvre exists. The Committee and, indeed, stakeholders would welcome a move towards a multi-year Budget, which, we understand, is under consideration.”
“<BR /> <BR />In written evidence submitted to the Committee in advance of this week's oral evidence session, the Department states:”
“<BR /> <BR />Concerns have frequently been raised in evidence to the Committee about the lack of suitable bail accommodation, legal aid funding, overcrowding in prisons and a crumbling courts estate. The PSNI might account for a significant proportion of the Department's overall budget allocation for 2025-26, but, still, it faces significant challenges. A recent report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services found that continued financial pressures are adversely affecting service delivery. Members will be aware that the PSNI is implementing a workforce recovery plan, which aims to grow the number of police officers to 7,000 and staff to 2,500 over the next three years. It is important that sufficient funding is made available to allow that to happen. Officer numbers must grow.”
“The Committee has repeatedly heard from stakeholders about the impact that the lack of funding is having. Last week, we held an event in the Long Gallery to engage with community and voluntary sector organisations on the Justice Bill. A recurring theme was the need for greater investment in early intervention services to prevent people entering the criminal justice system in the first place. I should point out that that does not rest solely with the Justice Department; other Departments also have key roles to play. People often enter the justice system when other services have failed them, and cross-departmental collaboration across a range of issues is therefore crucial.”
“Engagement continues with the Executive and the Department of Finance, as those pressures simply cannot be met from the Department's existing baseline.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is acknowledged that this is the largest ever budget settlement for the Department of Justice. I reiterate that it is welcomed by the Committee and the justice partners with whom we have engaged over the past number of months. However, despite that increase in funding, the Department still faces stabilisation pressures of some £31·6 million. Those include funding for pay, the much-needed PSNI workforce recovery, legal aid pressures and helping the Prison Service to cope with the increased prisoner population. Beyond those more immediate pressures, there are also the exceptional pressures of £227 million that I have mentioned in previous debates, relating to holiday pay, the PSNI data breach and the McCloud remedy.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will say once again what I have said in previous financial debates: the majority of the Department's budget is taken up with services that are demand-led, including, for example, policing, the Prison Service, the Courts and Tribunals Service and legal aid. The Department has little to no control over the level of demand for its services, which is showing no signs of slowing down. The Department received an opening resource DEL budget of £1,503 million, which includes ring-fenced funding of £87·7 million. The PSNI has been allocated £953·3 million of the resource allocation, which equates to over 63% of the total resource allocation. The Department has received a capital allocation of £100 million in the 2025-26 financial year, and the PSNI will account for almost 62% of that.”
“I declare that I have an immediate family member who works in the legal profession. <BR /> <BR />The Committee is due to hear from officials about the Department's budget and financial position in the June monitoring round at our meeting later this week. It is unfortunate that the scheduling means that we will get an update after the debate. I am confident, though, that the key message will be the same regardless: Justice has been historically underfunded over many years and, as a result, despite an increased budget allocation this year, there are pressures right across the Department.”
“He is well aware that ambition is important but so is delivery. My constituents in East Belfast live in hopeful expectancy.”
“It is about dignity, health, education and community cohesion. A secure and stable home is the starting point for employment, well-being, family life, prospects and hope. When we get housing right, we reduce pressure on our health and social services, improve educational and justice outcomes and build stronger, more connected communities. I know that the Minister gets that and will consider options to address some of the long-term problems. The housing aspects of his statement yesterday are immensely welcome. He is deeply committed to addressing homelessness and increasing the housing supply, amongst the many other housing initiatives and targets that he announced yesterday. I congratulate him on his vision, determination and successes thus far and look forward to hearing from him on how his proposals may impact on East Belfast.”
“<BR /> <BR />Before I take my seat, I express my gratitude to Paul McCombe, Gary Ballantyne and all the patch managers who are helpful and treat their work as a calling, not forgetting the legend that is Carole Johnston, who has just retired. We wish her well. We are immensely grateful to you for all that you do and the constructive and productive way in which you work with us to help people in communities. I also thank those in East Belfast who provide housing and accommodation for people who struggle to garner any points and require additional help with their circumstances and to rebuild their lives. I think particularly of MindWise and the East Belfast Mission. <BR /> <BR />I stress that the housing issue is not simply about the provision of bricks and mortar. Housing is foundational.”
“In some cases in East Belfast, the Department for Communities and other government agencies have spent many millions working alongside residents to help them improve and regenerate their locality, only for a few reprobates to be assigned to housing in the vicinity. The peace is then shattered, the reputation is lost, and those stable and long-term residents are tortured and become afraid, watching the place that they love degenerate. I so wish that the Housing Executive had sharper teeth and lower thresholds to deal with people who wilfully, deliberately and defiantly misbehave and wreak havoc for fun.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will express my sympathy and frustration for rather than at the Housing Executive where allocations are concerned, because, regardless of a problem tenant's track record, it is obliged to rehouse them. Thus, there are repeat offenders who move perpetually from place to place, leaving a trail of mayhem and, often, destruction in their wake. That is reprehensible. Due care should be taken over allocations and the damage that such people can do. Problem tenants can completely change the character and reputation of an area and make life pure misery for people who live there.”
“My office receives multiple complaints from tenants who indicate that their housing association is not fulfilling its responsibility as a landlord in maintenance and improvement schemes. Across East Belfast, members of residents' groups with which I am involved regularly express their frustration that, whilst NIHE tenants receive support from bathroom, kitchen and window schemes, their home is left with draughty windows and bathrooms and kitchens that either have problems that have not been properly addressed or that are well over 20 years old and in desperate need of replacement. That includes people who are on full rents. It is not acceptable. Moreover, numerous tenants indicate that service standards are falling or that work on outdoor maintenance and keeping developments in good condition is minimal.”
“The biggest development opportunities in the past number of years have been in Dundonald, where several new private housing developments have been established. However, many of those houses could not be classed as affordable homes. NI Water advises that the area is pretty much at capacity, and that impacts on planning decisions and time frames for building. Frankly, the roads are no better. Getting through Dundonald at rush hour is not a pretty picture. Some might say, "Use public transport. Get the Glider", but even the park-and-ride facilities in East Belfast are full. Planning and infrastructure are not the Minister's problem, but they exacerbate the housing issue and the demand for social housing. <BR /> <BR />I will touch on housing associations and then turn to allocations.”
“Homelessness is on the rise. Many people are being forced out of their home altogether. Those individuals might have to wait a considerable time for suitable accommodation, but, in the meantime, they have nowhere to go. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, the issue is not simply about the number of houses but about the right kind of homes in the right places that are built to meet the real and changing needs of our communities. Those needs include homes that are energy-efficient and accessible, that can help families to thrive and that reflect the make-up of East Belfast. <BR /> <BR />Infrastructure is at capacity, and planning is slow. East Belfast is already considerably built-up, so there is limited space on which to build.”
“House prices are rising, making it increasingly difficult for people to afford home ownership. People are being priced out. East Belfast is one of the most expensive places in Northern Ireland in which to buy. Many of the homes that are built there are beyond the reach of a considerable number of people, as the escalating costs of building are passed on to the consumer. East Belfast is in demand, and demand increases the asking price. That is the market. <BR /> <BR />More people than ever are renting privately, but private rentals can be expensive and unstable, resulting in constant worry about eviction and, sometimes, relatively short-term tenancy agreements. Furthermore, there are private landlords who will not accept tenants who are in receipt of housing benefit, thus adding to the number of obstacles for some people to overcome.”
“In only one year in that 20-year period were more houses built in East Belfast than in the rest of Belfast. In 2021, East Belfast got 57 houses, South Belfast got 23, West Belfast got 31 and North Belfast got 36. Hence, I very much look forward to the day when the Housing Executive is once more permitted to borrow to build. I know that no one has pushed harder for that than Minister Lyons, and I trust that his efforts on that will be rewarded imminently by His Majesty's Treasury. I also welcome his scoping exercise, which was done alongside Belfast City Council, to identify and evaluate potential sites for housing development. <BR /> <BR />It must be borne in mind that multiple factors contribute to the lack of affordable housing, which, in turn, increases the need for social housing.”
“The root of the housing crisis in East Belfast stems from a lack of affordable housing and a legacy of Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) stock being sold off and not replaced in similar numbers. In the nearly 20 years between 2004 and 2023, despite the fact that a significant number of people sought homes in the east and were on waiting lists for them, in the development of social housing, East Belfast fell behind the three other Belfast constituencies. It lagged massively behind North Belfast and West Belfast in particular. The figures that the Housing Executive provided are stark: in East Belfast, 1,734 homes were developed; in South Belfast, there were 1,880; in West Belfast, there were 3,694; and, in North Belfast, there were 4,036. I remind Members that the number for East Belfast is 1,734.”
“The common thread to all those stories is the significant shortage of suitable and affordable housing. Those comments are as true today as they were then. =”
“Whilst it is a vibrant and diverse constituency that is rich in community spirit, heritage, historical significance and resilience, there is no denying the very real challenges that we face when it comes to meeting the housing needs of our people. Housing issues comprise by far the largest aspect of my casework. All types of homes are needed, but it goes beyond that, because there also issues with quality, maintenance and schemes. <BR /> <BR />Four years ago, I secured a similar debate on housing in East Belfast. Since then, little has changed. Indeed, with the demise of the tower blocks and the fact that so many of those who were displaced are seeking to remain in East Belfast, the situation will not be resolved easily or quickly. In that previous debate on the subject, I stated:”
“In East Belfast, although you are in the city, you are only ever minutes away from parks in the country. The city centre is easily and quickly accessible, and there are reasonably decent transport links. There are greenways and plenty of local and varied shops, including artisan shops. East Belfast has a strong culture of close-knit communities, and it has active churches and community groups, many sports clubs and a hospital. Thus, it is a highly desirable location. Of course people want to live there; why would they not? <BR /> <BR />That has always been the case in East Belfast, and, as a result, there have always been extensive waiting lists for housing there.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss this topic in an Adjournment debate. It is a subject of great import in my constituency of East Belfast. I am grateful to the Minister for Communities for his attendance this afternoon and look forward to hearing what he has to say on the subject. <BR /> <BR />First, it is my privilege to represent the constituency in which I was born and raised. I take that responsibility seriously and do not take lightly the trust that was placed in me by the electorate. I am immensely proud of my part of the city and all that it has to offer. East Belfast is a superlative place in which to live, work, visit and raise a family. It is extremely safe and has superb schools, beautiful restaurants and excellent cafes and takeaways.”
“If I may, I would like to direct the Minister to discuss the domestic abuse space. We are getting significant complaints from victims of domestic abuse that the non-molestation orders (NMOs) are not as effective as they might be and that perpetrators are perpetually in breach of same. In light of the delay in prevention orders and notices, what scoping has she undertaken to establish the effectiveness of non-molestation orders and whether anything could be changed to make them better?”
“I am grateful for progress on this issue. The Minister will know that there are areas in Belfast that lend themselves to schemes such as this. I think immediately of Pasadena Gardens, for example: bin lorries cannot travel down that street because of the parking, and Ballyhackamore is just a nightmare. What will be required for the application process? With what type of information will residents have to be forthcoming? What support can be given to help to move things along?”
“I am immensely grateful to the Minister for the announcement on Bloomfield Community Association. I have lobbied for it everywhere for many years, and this DUP Minister, following our recent visit, has recognised the value of the work that Karen and her team do there. The redevelopment will make a significant difference to many children in East Belfast for generations to come, so I thank the Minister. In regard to the Minister's pitches strategy, where there are existing links between a community and a school — I think of Nettlefield Primary School — might there also be options for primary schools?”
“The Executive programme on paramilitarism and organised crime (EPPOC) team did a piece of work that showed that the number of strategies relating to paramilitarism, for example, was 89. That did not cover all the Departments, nor is there a centrally held list of strategies. A recent report to the Justice Committee indicated that elements of one strategy took so long to implement, due to a lack of resources and failure to agree on which Department was the lead, that it was completely superseded by other strategies. <BR /> <BR />Given the extreme budgetary pressures faced by Northern Ireland, what can be done by the First Minister's Department to make government more cohesive, to reduce duplication and to have Departments pulling in the same direction, thus getting a bigger bang for the taxpayer buck?”
“Mr Speaker, before I call my question, from the banners on your door, indications are that congratulations are in order. Happy birthday to you.”
“However, the Department has indicated that it will have to make tough decisions not only on the prioritisation of services but the potential cutting of services, which would have a significantly detrimental impact. Nevertheless, the Minister has outlined her ambitious legislative agenda for the mandate, some of which is rightly driven by court judgments and is urgent, lest Northern Ireland should be outwith the law or prove a weak link in the rest of the UK's justice system. The DUP urges her to ensure that other proposals in her programme are properly and fully costed; that her Department is mindful of its position of potentially having to cut existing services before it provisionally adds new ones; and that whatever comes forward to the House is financially stable and sustainable for the future.”
“That will still, however, present challenges in modernising the justice system. The Committee undertook a visit to the Courts and Tribunals Service and heard that it is planning an ambitious estate modernisation programme that is expected to cost over £75 million, alongside an IT transformation programme to improve access to justice for staff, the judiciary and stakeholders. From the visit, it was clear that it is not modernisation for the sake of it but to address, literally in places, a crumbling estate and transform the way that the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service does business. <BR /> <BR />I will now make some brief remarks as the DUP's Justice spokesperson. It is well known that the Justice budget is predominantly demand-led and thus the Minister has little room in which to manoeuvre: approximately 5%.”
“In response to the publication of the report, the Chief Constable described the Budget as "beyond disappointing". <BR /> <BR />The Committee has noted the clear indications from the Department that difficult decisions will be required in order to manage the pressures that it faces. It has warned that that will present challenges in delivering against Programme for Government priorities; in particular, the safer communities priority and, worryingly and frustratingly, the ability to increase police numbers. The Committee intends to closely monitor that as the year progresses. <BR /> <BR />Turning briefly to the capital allocation, the Department received £100 million against a final bid of £135·3 million, which, it has stated, will be used to address inescapable capital bids.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee has repeatedly heard of the need for further investment to address years of underfunding so that delays across the justice system and increasing demand can be met. That underfunding has been suggested by the Department to be equivalent to £220 million below where it would have been had funding kept pace with inflation. That has had a real impact on the delivery of vital justice services. For example, in a report published on 2 April 2025, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services said that neighbourhood policing is suffering the effect of the budgetary cuts:”
“In addition, exceptional pressures of £227 million remain in relation to holiday pay, the McCloud injury-to-feelings remedy and the PSNI data breach. As I have outlined to the House before, the services of the Department of Justice are mainly demand-led. That demand shows no signs of abating — quite the opposite — an example of which is the increasing prisoner population. It is disappointing, therefore, that the Department's reducing reoffending and prison population transformation bid was unsuccessful. That remains a priority area, and the Department has advised that it will continue to bid for funding for work in that area and intends to resubmit the bid at a future opportunity.”
“When that is taken into account, this may be the Department's largest-ever budget settlement. However, as outlined in the Budget document and as was stated directly to the Committee, that must be set in the context of the fall in the Department's share of the block grant since the devolution of policing and justice. <BR /> <BR />The increase in the allocation to Justice is undoubtedly welcome, but there are still significant pressures to be faced in the coming year, including those arising from the increased employers' National Insurance contributions, which will not all be covered by the June monitoring allocation; the revised pay award assumptions; and the funding required to implement the uplift in legal aid remuneration, as recommended in the Burgess report.”
“I rise as Chairperson of the Committee for Justice and declare that I have an immediate family member who works in the legal profession. <BR /> <BR />The outcome for the Department of Justice in the 2025-26 Budget provides the Department with a resource DEL allocation of £1,415·3 million and a capital allocation of £100 million. The resource DEL includes earmarked funding for a range of matters, such as additional security funding for the PSNI, funding for the Executive programme on paramilitarism and organised crime and transformation funding. The Budget document notes that indicative allocations of £10·3 million have been agreed by the Executive for June monitoring to help tackle the rise in employers' National Insurance contributions, additional funding for the safer communities programme and funding for judicial salaries.”
“The Minister mentioned the removal of intimidation points and the impact that that might have on those who find themselves in a domestic abuse situation. Can he outline exactly what the impact might be and how victims of violence and abuse in general, as well as domestic abuse, can be assisted by his proposal to remove intimidation points?”