Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)

I echo what we have heard in welcoming Martin Hughes to his new role. Congratulations to him. I also thank Bridget Doody, who always had a welcoming smile on her face to put us at ease when we walked in. I hope she enjoys her retirement.

Today I will speak about how our legal aid system can sometimes overlook victims of domestic violence. We must recognise the serious gap that exists in our current legal aid system. A victim of domestic abuse who is in employment can often find themselves excluded from free legal aid. On paper that may seem fair, but in reality, it means that victim, who may be working to provide for themselves or for children, is left to cover legal fees. Sometimes the abuser may control the other household finances. Domestic abuse is not just physical or emotional. It can be financial. Many victims appear on paper to have an income or assets yet, in practice, those resources are controlled or withheld by the abuser. In these circumstances, the victims are locked out of the very protections the legal aid system is supposed to offer because the test for legal aid does not reflect the reality of financial abuse. A person should not be disadvantaged simply because they are working or because their abuser is able to manipulate the financial system. Legal aid must be responsive to the true circumstances of victims, and not just the figures that appear on paper.That is why I am calling for the Minister to review the current framework for legal aid. Victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence must not be overlooked. They must be able to access the legal assistance they need without being forced into a position where justice depends on who can endure the process the longest.