AQW 49404/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 23/06/2026
Answered On Date: 30/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) how relevant prior experience is assessed for teachers returning to grant-aided schools, including experience gained in independent schools, higher education, curriculum development, STEM outreach and industry; and (ii) whether his Department has considered introducing a portfolio-based approach to recognising such experience for salary placement purposes.

Answer:

As I have previously said, every life lost to violence is an unacceptable tragedy. Violence against women and girls remains a deeply concerning issue which requires sustained cross-Executive leadership and coordinated action, as well as an effective criminal justice response.

I remain satisfied that the existing criminal law in Northern Ireland provides a robust framework for prosecuting all forms of homicide for all victims, including cases in which misogyny, domestic abuse or gender-based violence may be significant factors. Furthermore, the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 also significantly strengthens the justice response both by creating a specific domestic abuse offence and recognising patterns of abusive, controlling and coercive behaviour with corresponding aggravators which apply to sentencing. There is evidence that the domestic abuse offence is being used more frequently, and that the domestic abuse aggravator is now more routinely applied in prosecutions.

While no formal assessment into a specific offence of femicide has been carried out, my Department has considered the broader issues surrounding violence against women and girls, including the concept of femicide. It remains my view, that the creation of a standalone offence of femicide would not provide additional legal protections beyond those already available under existing homicide and domestic abuse legislation. I believe that the existing legislative framework is robust and sufficient to hold perpetrators to account and my priority is prevention, protection and support.

However, I am firmly committed to tackling abuse and violence in all its forms, and I remain open to learning from developments in other jurisdictions and will continue to keep this area under review.