AQO 2799/22-27 Oral question to the Minister of Justice
To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on her plans to allow broadcasting in courts.
Asked by Danny Donnelly MLA on 20 November 2025
- Answered
- Oral
- Tabled
- 20 November 2025
- Answer due by
- 1 December 2025
- Answered
- 1 December 202511 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Justice
- Priority question
- No
Answer
ANSWER – AQO 2799/22-27
I believe that the broadcasting of certain court proceedings, such as legal exchanges and judgments in the Court of Appeal, and sentencing remarks in the Crown Court, will be a positive step in enhancing the transparency of the justice system.
I wish to emphasise again that I am not proposing to allow the recording or filming of victims, witnesses, defendants or jurors, nor indeed members of the public or court staff.
Broadcasting will, in essence, simply provide another way for journalists to cover proceedings on which they can already report, and any reporting restrictions would still apply.
A report, summarising the response to the broadcasting of courts consultation, was published at the end of October.