Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2009

My Lords, I, too, thank the Lord President for introducing the order. Community halls are vital in strengthening and maintaining the social infrastructure in the communities they serve, so any criminal damage caused to them puts huge financial pressure on the communities that have to repair them. This order is very much welcomed by these Benches. The Lord President spoke about the concern expressed by the ad hoc committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly about the equality impact screening of the proposals. That has been addressed, which addresses the Assembly’s concern. I have only one question for the Lord President: what work has been undertaken to ensure that the order is not vulnerable to challenge? Otherwise, we support the order.