Justice Minister Naomi Long on Tuesday was accused of being “unparliamentary” during a sometimes heated debate in relation to where transgender prisoners should be held.
A UUP motion calling for legislation stipulating that transgender women still biologically male should be held in male prisons or holding facilities, and vice versa for those who identify as transgender men was defeated in the Assembly on Monday.
UUP MLA Steve Aiken described the debate on the issue as “ill tempered” as he singled out the Alliance leader for particular criticism.
“It was (an) ill tempered debate particularly by the justice minister, who seemed to impose herself at every opportunity and try and shift the story on,” Mr Aiken told Good Morning Ulster.
.“Yesterday was another example of party politicking for a particular purpose and the particular emphasis that the Justice Minister and Alliance used against the Ulster Unionist Party was not the most edifying,” Mr Aiken added.
“If you listen to the way she criticised both what Doug (Beattie) was trying to say and other members were trying to say.
“I was sitting two rows back and, you know, constantly, constant trying to undermine what we were trying to say and why we were doing it.
“It was not a very edifying position and to be honest with you....I thought it was quite unparliamentary the way that was being done yesterday.”
The Department of Justice said the minister has nothing further to add to her comments made during the debate. Mrs Long previously expressed her disappointment the motion was tabled. She added the UUP was seeking to “play out culture wars”.
During the debate, Mr Beattie, the UUP’s justice spokesperson, suggested a unit in Magilligan could be developed to house transgender women, while something similar for those who identify as men could be done at Hydebank women’s facility.
The motion was defeated after Sinn Fein, Alliance and the SDLP joined to oppose, while the UUP, the DUP and TUV all supported the move.