There are three long-delayed Bills in the justice area. The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill is a big issue for people who were convicted of very minor offences in their youth and who now face a barrier to employment. It has been delayed for far too long. The second Bill is mediation legislation, which will be very important with regard to family law. It would mean people would not have to go down the road of adversarial court processes but would instead go through mediation. It is much needed but long delayed legislation. The third Bill, the judicial council Bill, is also long delayed. It deals with oversight and independence of the Judiciary, as well as sentencing guidelines. There are new Bills being brought into the justice area but when will these long delayed Bills come before us and be finalised?

The judicial council Bill will be this session. The mediation Bill will be later in the year. The spent convictions legislation is awaiting Report Stage, as there are a number of amendments that are quite complicated. There is a great deal of work done on them but I cannot give a date on movement. It is a priority.