Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail how she will ensure that (i) any new delivery models for legal aid services will be financially sustainable; and (ii) the current regulatory and consumer protections will continue to apply to those services. Minister of Justice: The Department of Justice is committed … Continue reading AQW 34115/22-27 – Legal Aid Services Sustainability
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps she is taking to ensure that reform of the legal aid policies and payments system will attract and retain an increased diversity of practitioners, to provide legal aid services. Minister of Justice: His Honor Tom Burgess CBE led an independent … Continue reading AQW 34117/22-27 – Legal Aid Services Diversity
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps she is taking to reduce the average length of time, that Legal Aid practitioners are waiting to receive payment from her Department, for bills submitted for services provided. Minister of Justice: The table below indicates the payment times in August … Continue reading AQW 33999/22-27 – Legal Aid payments
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail the overall expenditure figures for legal aid services, along with the associated number of cases granted legal aid, in each of the last 10 years. Minister of Justice: Table 1 presents total annual expenditure for legal aid in Northern Ireland alongside the … Continue reading AQW 33998/22-27 – Legal Aid Services Cost
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any discussions her Department is currently undertaking with the Criminal Bar Association, to fully restore legal aid services. Minister of Justice: My officials continue to engage directly and extensively with the Criminal Bar Association, primarily under the auspices of the Criminal Legal … Continue reading AQW 33997/22-27 – Legal aid services
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any guidelines that will be introduced to recognise the community of Irish speakers by facilitating their inclusion in our legal services and spaces. Minister of Justice: I very much welcome the long overdue repeal of the Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) … Continue reading AQW 23418/22-27 – Irish language legal services
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice, pursuant to AQW 12373/22-27, to detail any cooperation that has taken place with (i) criminal justice organisations; and (ii) organised crime task forces internationally, to identify (a) opportunities; and (b) risks with Artificial Intelligence. Minister of Justice: (i)(a) The new Themis contract in NI … Continue reading AQW 20342/22-27 – Justice Department Artificial Intelligence opportunities and risks
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any consideration she is giving to addressing agricultural equipment theft by introducing legislation similar to the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 in England and Wales. Minister of Justice: A partnership approach is central to addressing crime, including agricultural crime. My Department chairs … Continue reading AQW 19813/22-27 – Agricultural equipment theft
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