Motion

Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

Motion TitleEnding Violence Against Women and Girls

Motion TextThat this Assembly expresses horror at the epidemic of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland; expresses regret that several recommendations made in the Gillen Review, Report into the Law and Procedures in Serious Sexual Offences in Northern Ireland, particularly those relating to reforming laws around the defence of reasonable belief and to introducing pre-trial jury education, have not been implemented; and calls on the Minister of Justice to introduce pre-trial jury education and to bring forward legislation to reform the legal definition of reasonable belief, in line with the Gillen Review, by the end of the 2022-2027 mandate.

Motion CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Motion TypeOpposition business

Date Tabled to Business Office06/01/2025

Date Selected By Committee07/01/2025

Date of Plenary Debate14/01/2025

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Tabled By

Member Name	Tabled As
Mr Matthew O'Toole	MLA - South Belfast

Bills

Outcome/Voting

The Motion Was Carried by Oral Vote

Amendments

Selected Amendments

Number	Tabled Date	Amendment Text
1	10/01/2025	Leave out all after ‘implemented;’ and insert: ‘and calls on the Minister of Justice to consult on, and introduce, pre-trial jury education and to consult on proposals to clarify the legal definition of what constitutes reasonable belief in consent, by the end of the 2022-2027 mandate.’

Other Amendments Tabled

Tabled Date	Amendment Text
09/01/2025	Leave out all after ‘implemented;’ and insert: ‘further regrets that repeated periods of Assembly collapse have prevented more rapid progress being made on the remaining recommendations of the Gillen Review, particularly with respect to those proposals that require legislation; welcomes the very significant progress that has been made by the Minister of Justice since she has taken office; and acknowledges the further significant progress that the Minister intends to advance by the end of the 2022-2027 mandate via legislative proposals contained in the forthcoming victims and witnesses of crime Bill.’

Tabled Date

Amendment Text

09/01/2025

Leave out all after ‘implemented;’ and insert: ‘further regrets that repeated periods of Assembly collapse have prevented more rapid progress being made on the remaining recommendations of the Gillen Review, particularly with respect to those proposals that require legislation; welcomes the very significant progress that has been made by the Minister of Justice since she has taken office; and acknowledges the further significant progress that the Minister intends to advance by the end of the 2022-2027 mandate via legislative proposals contained in the forthcoming victims and witnesses of crime Bill.’

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Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

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