To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the progress of their Department becoming the sponsor of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), in line with the recommendation in the Tailored Review of NICCY, commissioned by the Department for Communities following New Decade, New Approach.

Mrs O'Neill

Sponsorship responsibility for NICCY continues to rest with the Department for Communities under the existing legislative framework, while the First Minister and deputy First Minister retain the joint appointing role. We are content that the current arrangements remain appropriate.

Mrs O'Neill

Yes. I can concur with that. The role of the Children's Commissioner is to be that champion and to speak up very clearly when they feel that they need to and want to offer their view on any of those particularly sensitive areas. I welcome and encourage that ongoing approach from the Children's Commissioner. Initially, you asked whether the Executive Office would take on the role of sponsor Department. In the discussions that we had with DFC, we were content with the arrangements as they currently sit and with DFC being the sponsor Department. We will continue to engage with the commissioner over the weeks, months and years ahead.

Mr Martin

I have written to the Children's Commissioner three times in as many weeks regarding his public position on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) to 16. I asked Mr Quinn questions such as, if prosecution is excluded because the male perpetrator is under 16 years old, how he proposes to recognise the heinous crime of rape on female victims who are children. His first reply directed me to an external website to explain his policy position. In his second, he replied with three sentences. Is it acceptable for the Children's Commissioner to refuse to answer an MLA's questions?

Mrs O'Neill

I cannot comment on your correspondence with the commissioner. However, any information that helps MLAs to make a decision on those important issues is to be welcomed. Where I absolutely disagree with you is on the petition of concern. It was not the way to deal with this issue.

Ms Murphy

Does the First Minister agree that having the voices of our young people reflected in government policy is a vital aspect in delivering for them?

Mrs O'Neill

Yes, I do, because politics has to deliver for everybody in society. It has to deliver for our young people. They are the future leaders of our society and have every right to have their voices heard in decision-making processes that impact their lives. I have to say that, like many people in the House, I am inspired by so many of the young people whom I get the chance to meet at different events, schools and community centres and in the wider community. It is really important that we focus on empowering our young people. Empowering our young people to vote will encourage a lifetime of political engagement. Certainly, it would strengthen our democracy. With two elections scheduled here in 2027, our focus now must be on ensuring that all 16-year-olds can take part. So many of the issues that will affect them are shaped here in the Chamber, so the Chamber should be more reflective of the community, whether that is young people or people from the black and ethnic minority community. We are not reflective of wider society, and more effort could be made to ensure that we reflect the community that we serve.