All of Mr John O'Dowd’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I welcome the sustainability report from the Fiscal Council and thank it for its work on this. While the report is very comprehensive in its coverage of the history and current funding model of NI Water, the options provided to support greater investment are limited. Indeed, the report highlights the complexity of the…
I think that it has been. The independent evaluation of phase 1 of the dormant assets grant programme has been ongoing since November 2023. An interim evaluation report was published in July 2024, and a second interim evaluation report was published in January 2025. The evaluations to date confirm the continuing…
I am delighted that over £25 million has been awarded from dormant assets funding, under the policy directions set by my Department to increase capacity, grow resilience and encourage sustainability in the voluntary and community sector. Earlier this month, I attended the launch of the Digital Futures report, made…
The Holtham report examined the issue of policing and justice here and the weight that it carries in our overall level of need. That formed part of our deliberations with the Treasury and the settlement that we reached with it.
It is not normal practice for me as Finance Minister to meet the chief executives of the various arm's-length bodies and public bodies that other Ministers have responsibility for. I have committed to meeting the Justice Minister, and I will sit down with the Justice Minister and will discuss that. If the Justice…
The history to the ring-fencing of funding for waiting lists is that it was as a direct result of a commitment in the Programme for Government by the Health Minister. I can confirm that the Minister of Justice has brought forward a bid for ring-fenced funding for the PSNI. That may well happen as part of the…
I thank the Member for his question. As I said, that is, first and foremost, a matter for the Justice Minister. I am hoping to meet the Justice Minister tomorrow to discuss the recent business case that the PSNI submitted to her Department and then on to my Department. That business case has been approved, but there…
The final Budget provided earmarked funding to the Department of Health for reducing waiting lists, reflecting the Programme for Government commitment. Funding for the PSNI is primarily a matter for the Minister of Justice. Including the indicative June monitoring allocations, Budget 2025-26 provided the Department of…
Thank you for the opportunity to update Members today on the implications of last week's spending review announcement on our public finances. As Members will be aware, my predecessor, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, secured a commitment from Treasury in May 2024 to review the approach to funding the Executive at the relevant…
I beg to move I seek permission from the House to suspend Standing Order 39(2) in respect of the Budget (No. 2) Bill, given the time constraints and the need the move the legislation forward. It is not an exceptional circumstance — we have to do this every year for the Budget Bill — but I request that the House…
Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the contributions from Chairs, Deputy Chairs and other spokespersons on the Budget (No. 2) Bill. As I have said before, it is useful to hear the views of the respective Committees and of Members on the important financial and economic issues that the…
I beg to move Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The Second Stage debate today follows the Assembly's approval on Tuesday 3 June of the Supply resolution for the expenditure plans of Departments and other public bodies as detailed in the Main Estimates 2025-26. Accelerated passage of the Budget (No. 2) Bill…
I beg to introduce the Budget (No. 2) Bill [NIA 14/22-27], which is a Bill to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for the year ending 31 March 2026 (including income); to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of that year; to authorise the use of…
I await a lectern, Mr Speaker. I am sure that one is heading in this direction. Supply resolution debates can often cover many aspects of public expenditure, not always directly relating to the subject being considered. I will, however, endeavour to address as many of the points raised during the debate as I can in…
I beg to move Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. As you have set out, the debate is on the Supply resolution for the Main Estimates 2025-26, which relates to the supply of cash and the use of resources for the current year, 2025-26. It seeks the Assembly's approval for the 2025-26 spending plans of…
Clause 1 to 8 - Consideration Stage: Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 14/22-27) )Clause 1 to 8 - Consideration Stage: Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 14/22-27)
The draft Legal Complaints and Regulation (Penalty) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 That the draft Legal Complaints and Regulation (Penalty) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.
The draft Legal Complaints and Regulation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (Levy) Regulations 2025 That the draft Legal Complaints and Regulation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (Levy) Regulations 2025 be approved.