AQW 17057/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 21/10/2024
Answered On Date: 30/10/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance how she intends to protect victims of domestic abuse against financial coercion during the no fault divorce process in her proposed legislation.

Answer:

Officials have been reviewing divorce legislation in other jurisdictions and plan to meet over the coming months with key stakeholders who can make a useful contribution to developing policy proposals. It is intended that this initial work will provide the basis for a full public consultation in 2025. This will inform divorce legislation that best meets the needs of those who, for whatever reason and in whatever circumstances, including those highlighted by the member, wish to end their marriage or civil partnership. In particular, officials have noted reforms elsewhere that enable those in coercive or abusive relationships a reasonably prompt exit without living through years of formal separation in which further financial coercion may occur, and those issues, along with others, will be carefully considered during the policy development process.

I am determined that, in keeping with the Programme for Government commitment to ending violence against women and girls, any reforms to current divorce legislation will be effected in a manner that takes account of victims of domestic violence.