AQO 3553/22-27

Mr David Honeyford
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 30/04/2026
Answered On Date: 12/05/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the Justice Bill (NIA Bill 07/22-27).

Answer:

AQO 3553-22-27

The 18-month-long Committee Stage of the Justice Bill ended on 27 March 2026.

Executive approval for the new policy content to be added to the Bill by way of Departmental amendment was granted at the Executive meeting on Thursday 30 April and, subject to further clearance by the Speaker and the Assembly Business Committee, I am hopeful that Consideration Stage of the Bill can take place in June if not before.

Drafting of proposed provisions on non-consensual sexually-explicit deepfake images of adults is proving to be complex and will take some additional time to finalise and they will not be able to be tabled in the Justice Bill at Consideration Stage.

While it would not be unprecedented to seek to bring these provisions into the Justice Bill by amendment at Further Consideration Stage, this would restrict the Committee’s ability to properly scrutinise the provisions.

However, I am determined to deliver these important measures during this Assembly mandate and – subject to the views of the Executive – I may be able to introduce these provisions to the Sentencing Bill, by way of amendment at Consideration Stage of that legislative vehicle.