New sentencing laws may face delays - Long
Naomi Long plans to introduce three pieces of legislation in the next three years
- Published
The justice minister has said there may be "jeopardy" around new sentencing laws being passed during this assembly mandate due to potential timetabling issues.
Naomi Long's proposed bill would, amongst other things, impose tougher sentences on people who cause death by dangerous driving.
Last week, the parents of Enda Dolan, a student killed by a drunk motorist, said the change is "taking forever".
Long told MLAs she shared the views of Mr Dolan's parents.
She plans to introduce three pieces of legislation during the remaining three years of the assembly.
She said their passage will be affected by the time it takes the justice committee to scrutinise things.
A proposal for "an 18 month committee stage" could mean the sentencing bill does not get through the assembly before the next election.
The bill will also contain a so-called Charlotte's Law dealing with murderers who do not reveal the location of a victims' body.
Long said a separate victims' bill could likewise be impacted by scheduling.
She said she had assured Mr Dolan's parents the sentencing bill is a priority.
However she added: "I cannot guarantee what business the assembly will schedule [or] what time the committee will take."
Long said she could understand how families might "despair" if the bill does not pass before 2027.