To ask the Minister of Justice whether her Department has engaged with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on how the treatment of animals in domestic abuse cases could be better reflected in family court proceedings.

While I recognise that domestic abuse can involve mistreatment of animals, policy responsibility for the substantive law applied by courts in private family law cases sits with the Department of Finance. This includes the legislation (the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998) under which courts can make non-molestation and occupation orders. It would, therefore, be for that Department to engage with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs regarding how the legislative framework could be enhanced in relation to family cases which raise concerns about animal welfare.