Speeches by Hanna.

“I do not think we are going to be in much disagreement about the role of the social media companies and the need to regulate. Malachi has just outlined the personal and financial strain he experienced, and the fact that that is unlikely to be something that has only affected him. Do you acknowledge that that exists wit…”

“I think all of us would defend people’s right to a good name. I am so sorry to hear about the experience of you and your family. Nobody should face intimidation in the course of their work. You have said that cases like Malachi’s should not happen, but they clearly do, and they happen extensively. The judge, as Malachi…”

“Do you think that Malachi’s case is a one off? Do you think it is the exception, or part of a culture?”

“You think that Malachi’s case appears to be the exception; you do not think that that is part of an identifiable culture.”

“Obviously, the definition and categorisation of SLAPPs is evolving. Are you familiar with the concept of super-injunctions? Do you think that they would fall under the same categorisation?”

“But of course it is. In many cases, there is a complete inequality of arms, in that the costs can tick up, as they did for somebody like Malachi. In that case, imperfect though it was, there was at least a two-sided legal process, where he would have had—if he had unlimited financial means—the opportunity to go in and,…”

“Time is not in our favour, and other colleagues want to come in, including on the existing legal framework. We are not necessarily in disagreement on AI, but I don’t think time allows.”

“The danger is, having—I believe—identified substantial gaps and flaws in our legislative framework for defamation and SLAPPs in Northern Ireland, we could eat up all our time on AI, which is outwith the remit of this Committee.”

“In your opinion.”

“I have two quick follow-ups. You might not be able to name a case of libel tourism, Paul, but do you think the potential is there for that to exist? Is that a marketable opportunity?”

“Exactly: it is a way that both shuts the press up and is publicly funded to do so. Would any of the remedies that we have discussed here help to address that? Are there other avenues that you think should be explored?”

“I can’t wait.”

“The challenges we are experiencing on Saintfield Road and Sandy Row sound very much like what the hon. Gentleman will be dealing with in Coleraine and Dungiven. Retail provides vibrancy, shared space and a huge rates take. Lisburn Road in south Belfast puts around £6 million into the coffers of Belfast city council. Co…”

“Thank you very much, Minister. I wanted to ask you about the voluntary sector. Everywhere, it plugs some of the gaps between government services, but, particularly with those years of stop-start government, it has really had to step up in Northern Ireland. There is a bit of a sense of abandonment by the political class…”

“I did not want to name names, but I am attributing a direct quote.”

“As I said, we have sympathy with that, and I believe in devolution and not just cutting and pasting. My concern is that it is priorities in words, but not necessarily in allocation. I am not convinced that that stabilisation, which we all understand, is adequately happening. The draft budget says that it is being viewe…”

“I will come back in on how we break the cycle but, in the interests of trust in the Executive and how we buy people into the journey that we are going on, there is a real worry about a mismatch in words and actions. We all understand those financial pressures, and you have selected in the narrative and in the public-fa…”

“Thank you very much, Minister and others. I know colleagues are going to come back on the issues around fiscal framework and negotiations with Treasury, but I just wanted to look at some of the items in the draft PFG and budget. Everybody has sympathy for the challenges in those but, for example, the programme for gove…”

“I have just a quick one to finish. The BMA told us last week that the health sector needs better targeted funding and not necessarily more. Do you agree with that assessment?”

“Thank you very much, Minister and others. I know colleagues are going to come back on the issues around fiscal framework and negotiations with Treasury, but I just wanted to look at some of the items in the draft PFG and budget. Everybody has sympathy for the challenges in those but, for example, the programme for gove…”