Long announces plans to allow broadcasting of courts

Date published: 27 October 2025

Justice Minister Naomi Long has published a summary of responses to a public consultation on proposals to allow the recording and broadcasting of certain court proceedings.

The document also sets out the next steps for the Department of Justice, which will include bringing forward the legislation required to enable the plans to be implemented.

The Department will work closely with the Office of the Lady Chief Justice in developing the plans.

Minister Long said: 

"Allowing broadcasting in courts will increase transparency and allow the public to view decisions being made by the judiciary in Northern Ireland.

"This can only be a good thing, however, I am aware some respondents to the public consultation did express concerns about the impact of the proposals on victims and children.

"It's important to stress the broadcasting of certain court proceedings will, in essence, simply provide another way for journalists to cover proceedings on which they can already report.

"Members of the public, including victims, witnesses and jurors, will not be filmed or recorded.

"Furthermore, the decision on whether a case can be recorded or broadcast will lie with the individual judge, and any reporting restrictions will continue to apply regardless of how proceedings are reported upon.

"This is not about turning our courts into livestream entertainment; it is about improving public confidence in our justice system and, as always, victims and witnesses will remain at the heart of everything we do."

Types of court proceedings which may be broadcast under the plans include:

• The handing down of a judgement in the Court of Appeal, as well as the submissions of legal representatives and exchanges between legal representatives and the court
• Judges making sentencing remarks in the Crown Court

Only those broadcasters who are permitted in writing by the Department of Justice will be allowed to record certain proceedings.