Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has welcomed an announcement from the Irish Government providing up to €2 million towards a Shared Island Greenways Fund.
Responding to the announcement from the Justice Secretary, David Lammy, that jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years are set to be scrapped, Green Party MP, Siân Berry, said:
“The focus on victims’ rights is appreciated, but this Labour Government is taking the wrong steps to try to serve us better, and laying the groundwork for further crackdowns on dissent, whistleblowing and protest if it removes juries from so many charges that have state or corporate victims.
“Juries are also a safeguard against creeping bias and discrimination. Judges are not currently representative of our wider communities and, under these plans, individual decisions will be at risk of damaging politicisation, while individual judges who are women or from minoritised communities risk attacks from the far right.
“More than fifteen years of continuing austerity has caused a backlog in the courts, not juries. Instead of dismantling a centuries-old fundamental legal right, the Government must reverse the neglect and cuts that created this mess in the first place.”
As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Executive has reaffirmed its determination to tackle all forms of gender-based violence, abuse, and harm.
Housing Minister Gordon Lyons and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt have announced a collaborative new programme to support young people leaving care and help prevent homelessness.
A new approach to road maintenance which will focus on a greater use of technology has been outlined by the Infrastructure Minister.