Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“I welcome the fact that the Attorney General has referred the Safe Access Zones Bill to the Supreme Court. When the legislation came before the Assembly I sought to amend it so as to provide for a reasonable excuse defence but the SDLP, Sinn Fein and Alliance voted down my amendment. Now Supreme Court is rightly being asked to give its verdict on whether the Assembly has overstepped the mark.
“Clare Bailey’s Bill has profoundly worrying ramifications for freedom of speech and religion.”