AQO 2799/22-27

Mr Danny Donnelly
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 20/11/2025
Answered On Date: 01/12/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on her plans to allow broadcasting in courts.

Answer:

ANSWER – AQO 2799/22-27

I believe that the broadcasting of certain court proceedings, such as legal exchanges and judgments in the Court of Appeal, and sentencing remarks in the Crown Court, will be a positive step in enhancing the transparency of the justice system.

I wish to emphasise again that I am not proposing to allow the recording or filming of victims, witnesses, defendants or jurors, nor indeed members of the public or court staff.

Broadcasting will, in essence, simply provide another way for journalists to cover proceedings on which they can already report, and any reporting restrictions would still apply.

A report, summarising the response to the broadcasting of courts consultation, was published at the end of October.