To ask the Minister of Finance for an update on (i) his Department's work on reviewing divorce, separation and dissolution legislation; and (ii) a timeline for when updated legislation will be brought forward.

Work to review the law on divorce, separation and dissolution began in 2024. To date, Department of Finance officials have reviewed the relevant legislation in other jurisdictions and held a series of meetings with key local stakeholders to obtain their views on the current arrangements and on options for change. On foot of this, my officials prepared a scoping paper, which I have now considered, and I have asked them to prepare a public consultation exercise. I hope to launch that in the coming months. Consultation responses, once analysed, will then inform the development and drafting of detailed legislative proposals for the Assembly to consider, amend and approve.

I cannot indicate at this stage when legislation will be passed, however, my aim is for this mandate.