To ask the Minister of Justice how his Department is working with relevant bodies, including the Irish Football Association, to address violent and anti-social behaviour by football fans attending Irish league matches.

My Department worked closely with the Irish Football Association and other sporting bodies in the development and creation of Part 4 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. Part 4 provides a package of powers to regulate conduct at sporting events including offences around throwing articles, offensive chanting, pitch incursion and possession of fireworks.

The IFA was particularly supportive of the football banning order provisions also created in the Act and undertook to support these with its own Code of Conduct. By way of IFA training programmes my Department was involved in briefing soccer clubs on the legislation. Giving effect to these powers is now an operational matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

In addition to this legislative work, through my Department’s Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs) network, a number of sports-based diversionary and education initiatives are delivered in conjunction with a number of bodies.

For example, with District Councils, Churches and voluntary bodies, PCSPs help provide Midnight and Twilight Soccer programmes; cage soccer and sports facilities; and residential courses, many on a cross-community basis to divert young people from anti-social behaviour.

Many of these projects are jointly funded with assistance by the IFA, churches, voluntary bodies and PCSPs.