| Ref No | Member | Question | Tabled | Status |
|
AQW 43222/22-27
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Mr Daniel McCrossan
(SDLP - West Tyrone)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the reason why there is a significant gender gap in favour of men regarding those accessing Legal Aid; and (ii) any action her Department is taking to narrow that gap.
+ Display Answer
| 25/03/2026 |
Answered on 08/04/2026
|
|
AQO 3408/22-27
|
Mr Patsy McGlone
(SDLP - Mid Ulster)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the steps she has taken to resolve the dispute with members of the Criminal Bar Association over Crown Court legal aid fees.
+ Display Answer
| 19/03/2026 |
Answered on 14/04/2026
|
|
AQO 3403/22-27
|
Mr Keith Buchanan
(DUP - Mid Ulster)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the current position with the ongoing industrial action by the Criminal Bar Association.
+ Display Answer
| 19/03/2026 |
Answered on 14/04/2026
|
|
AQO 3397/22-27
|
Ms Diane Forsythe
(DUP - South Down)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to outline the criteria used when decisions are made on which cases should progress through the courts during the current restrictions of the Criminal Bar strike.
+ Display Answer
| 19/03/2026 |
Answered on 14/04/2026
|
|
AQO 3240/22-27
|
Mr Trevor Clarke
(DUP - South Antrim)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice when her Department plans for courts to be back to normal operation, in light of the dispute with members of the Criminal Bar Association over Crown Court legal aid fees.
+ Display Answer
| 26/02/2026 |
Answered on 09/03/2026
|
|
AQO 3232/22-27
|
Mr Justin McNulty
(SDLP - Newry and Armagh)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to outline the number of criminal justice cases that are unable to proceed at present due to the dispute with members of the Criminal Bar Association over Crown Court legal aid fees.
+ Display Answer
| 26/02/2026 |
Answered on 09/03/2026
|
|
AQW 41179/22-27
|
Ms Claire Sugden
(IND - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Finance for his assessment of whether the current legal aid framework for non-molestation orders is sufficiently resilient to protect victims during periods of widespread withdrawal of legal services.
+ Display Answer
| 23/02/2026 |
Answered on 05/03/2026
|
|
AQO 3087/22-27
|
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
(SF - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to outline her proposed way forward on changes to legal aid under the Justice Bill (NIA Bill 07/22-27).
| 29/01/2026 |
To be answered by 10/02/2026
|
|
AQW 38373/22-27
|
Mr Gerry Carroll
(PBPA - West Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail the average waiting time for a trial to commence for cases involving defendants receiving legal aid in each of the last five years.
+ Display Answer
| 16/01/2026 |
Answered on 28/01/2026
|
|
AQW 38372/22-27
|
Mr Gerry Carroll
(PBPA - West Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail the average wage for criminal barristers receiving legal aid rates.
+ Display Answer
| 16/01/2026 |
Answered on 28/01/2026
|
|
AQW 38369/22-27
|
Mr Gerry Carroll
(PBPA - West Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice whether the Bar has supplied submissions and proposals to her Department, including independent economic appraisals, in relation to an uplift payment for legal aid.
+ Display Answer
| 16/01/2026 |
Answered on 28/01/2026
|
|
AQW 38281/22-27
|
Mr Gerry Carroll
(PBPA - West Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice whether she can confirm that Judge Burgess described the 16 per cent uplift in legal aid fees award to criminal barristers as being an interim position only.
+ Display Answer
| 15/01/2026 |
Answered on 22/01/2026
|
|
AQW 37528/22-27
|
Mr Justin McNulty
(SDLP - Newry and Armagh)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice for her assessment of the impact on domestic abuse victims, given the ongoing dispute in relation to legal aid payments for barristers.
+ Display Answer
| 05/01/2026 |
Answered on 20/01/2026
|
|
AQW 34214/22-27
|
Mr Patsy McGlone
(SDLP - Mid Ulster)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps she is taking to ensure that the independence of the legal profession and judiciary will be maintained, following the implementation of reforms of the legal aid system.
+ Display Answer
| 23/10/2025 |
Answered on 04/11/2025
|
|
AQW 34213/22-27
|
Mr Patsy McGlone
(SDLP - Mid Ulster)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps she is taking to ensure that reform of the legal aid system does not result in unmet need and gaps in the provision of legal aid services.
+ Display Answer
| 23/10/2025 |
Answered on 04/11/2025
|
|
AQW 34212/22-27
|
Mr Patsy McGlone
(SDLP - Mid Ulster)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any engagement her Department has had with stakeholders in relation to the contribution of the legal profession to the sustainability of the legal aid service.
+ Display Answer
| 23/10/2025 |
Answered on 04/11/2025
|
|
AQW 34117/22-27
|
Mr Patsy McGlone
(SDLP - Mid Ulster)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps she is taking to ensure that reform of the legal aid policies and payments system will attract and retain an increased diversity of practitioners, to provide legal aid services.
+ Display Answer
| 22/10/2025 |
Answered on 03/11/2025
|
|
AQW 33999/22-27
|
Mr Patsy McGlone
(SDLP - Mid Ulster)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps she is taking to reduce the average length of time, that Legal Aid practitioners are waiting to receive payment from her Department, for bills submitted for services provided.
+ Display Answer
| 21/10/2025 |
Answered on 03/11/2025
|
|
AQW 33998/22-27
|
Mr Patsy McGlone
(SDLP - Mid Ulster)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail the overall expenditure figures for legal aid services, along with the associated number of cases granted legal aid, in each of the last 10 years.
+ Display Answer
| 21/10/2025 |
Answered on 30/10/2025
|
|
AQW 33764/22-27
|
Mr Doug Beattie MC
(UUP - Upper Bann)
|
To ask the Minister of Justice (i) to detail the reasons for the imbalance between the sexes of those who have applied for and been awarded legal aid in 2024-25; and (ii) whether these differences translate in civil and criminal cases.
+ Display Answer
| 17/10/2025 |
Answered on 30/10/2025
|
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