Justice Minister Unveils Initiative to Enhance Access to Justice

A significant initiative aimed at enhancing access to justice has been announced by Justice Minister Naomi Long. She states that the “Enabling Access to Justice” programme will reorient services, placing individuals at the core of the system in Northern Ireland. Last year, legal aid payments reached a total of £114 million, marking the highest sum in the system’s history. The minister indicates that they are projected to spend the same amount this year. Naomi Long noted that, in contrast, the budget for legal aid was £76.9 million when she first assumed office in January 2020. She informed MLAs of the need to implement measures to ensure the system operates cost-effectively and with sufficient transparency. The minister outlined her objectives, stating: In a declaration to the Assembly, Long said: “It has to be acknowledged that there is increasing demand right across the justice system reflecting that all too often we are the provider of the last resort.” She continued, “I, therefore, need additional funds to ensure I can properly protect citizens to ensure the vulnerable are not at risk, that I can adequately resource police, prisons and justice delivery not in spite of the pressures facing other departments but because of them.” Long mentioned that a component of the reform will involve ensuring that those who can afford to cover their legal costs do so, thereby preventing public funding from displacing private funding. Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, she further added that “how we support access to justice can and does shape lives, and justice rarely gets the attention and funding it deserve.” She concluded, “It is clear we have a strong foundation on which to build but it is equally clear that remodelling is required.” Geraldine Hanna, the commissioner designate for victims of crime, expressed her approval of the programme’s announcement. She articulated that victims of crime require “a simpler, clearer system that [removed] barriers and [improved] access to justice, particularly for the most vulnerable.” She further stated, “It is essential that this system is sustainable and ensures fair remuneration for the legal profession working within it.” Hanna concluded, “I hope that these reforms will help to bring that about. What I think all victims of crime want to see now is these reforms moving at pace.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.