The Bar of Northern Ireland has welcomed the arrival of 108 new MLAs following the elections on 5 May.

Gerry McAlinden QC, chairman of the Bar Council, called on the newly-elected politicians to put justice high on their agendas as Programme for Government negotiations continue.

He said: “We congratulate all the returned and new MLAs and look forward to working with many of them over the course of the new Assembly mandate to help promote an efficient and effective justice system across NI.

“We call on them to make a commitment within the new Programme for Government to ensure that improving access to justice within Northern Ireland is a priority. Legal aid represents an indispensable part of our justice system which provides many of the most vulnerable in our society the only practical means of enforcing their basic legal rights.

“Furthermore, throughout the new mandate MLAs will be tasked with making significant decisions around the implementation of Access to Justice 2 and reforms in the Civil and Family Courts. We hope that all MLAs will recognise that legal aid represents a fundamentally important social welfare provision which requires future planning based on long term need and high quality front line services across NI.

“We very much look forward to engaging with the Assembly and working with MLAs on these important matters relating to the justice system in Northern Ireland in the years ahead.”