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Mr John O'Dowd: Assembly records
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 think that that spend is over six years. I am proud that my Department is leading the way on equality and diversity. There should be more of it across society so that we learn to live with and respect one another. Our differences are many, and they cover many topics, but let us be different, and let us respect our…
It is my understanding that the issues identified by the NI Audit Office through its disclaimer opinion are not about value-for-money propriety or how the Department manages its budget but relate to the complexity of the consolidation process. I will follow it up with my officials, but, at this time, I have no…
I cannot hop from being Finance Minister to Infrastructure Minister and go back and forth, but I am more than happy to answer your question as Finance Minister. We will continue to support NI Water in the way that we have been doing over the last number of years. This year, NI Water is receiving half a billion pounds'…
The law concerning shared property management is complex. While it is based on land law, it also potentially touches on or concerns areas of law that are the responsibility of other Departments, such as Communities, in respect of housing policy, and Economy, in respect of consumer protection and company law. That…
Supporting and working with our staff is vital. Ensuring that there is an environment in which they feel cherished and valued is also important. The Department works closely with the trade union side on how we can continue to broaden that support and offer it to our civil servants. Across society and some businesses…
Absence management processes in the Civil Service are designed to consider and take account of the specific circumstances of each individual case. As part of the absence management procedure, all stress-related absences, including PTSD, are immediately referred to welfare support services. Alongside that, stress…
The Civil Service handbook protects all civil servants, including prison officers. It is there to ensure that there is equity and fair play for all. Every policy can and will be reviewed through time and to learn lessons, but the Civil Service handbook is the best way to support our prison officers and the rest of the…
Assaults on those who are serving the public are an affront to us all. There is no place for violence in the workplace or anywhere in society. Where an assault results in sickness absence, the data that the Department of Finance holds for all civil servants does not always make explicit the cause of the absence. In…
It is only right and proper that Departments continually review the cost of their doing business and that, where they provide services, they satisfy themselves that what they charge covers the cost of those services and does not further burden the public purse. That sometimes requires decisions to be made on canteens,…
Sustainable Budgets are not just about revenue raising; they are about doing things better, which means, of course, being as efficient as possible and ensuring that we are doing the right things by focusing on the desired outcomes. As part of the Budget sustainability plan forward work programme, my Department is…
The Executive have an agreed position on NI Water, which is that it will remain a government-owned company and will be funded through the general grant, as it is now.
The Executive’s focus must be on wider Budget sustainability. We must also look at how we can do things better by improving efficiency and focusing on desired outcomes. While income generation will be part of that, decisions must be based on the economic and social context and on the need to deliver the public…
I cannot comment on individual cases, and I can assure the Member that, as I have said repeatedly during my answers to these questions, we are willing to work with ratepayers who face hardships and challenges. If the Member wishes to write to me about the individual case, I will raise the matter with LPS.
There will be historical debt that has been pursued and that, for a number of reasons, may not be collectable. For instance, I referred to businesses that have gone bankrupt and gone beyond the statutory period for return, which is, I think, six years plus one. There may be other reasons why people cannot repay their…
Wide-ranging support is available to ratepayers to assist them in fulfilling their payment of rates. Starting with domestic ratepayers, I will give some examples: there is housing benefit, rate rebate, low-income rate relief, disabled person's allowance and lone pensioner's allowance. For non-domestic rates, there is…
There is a variety of reasons why businesses and domestic ratepayers are not paying their bills in the timely manner that we would like, and we have to understand those reasons as we deal with each case individually. When, after working with the ratepayer, it comes to light that they are not working with us, court…
The question for written answer to which the Member refers relates specifically to a prior rating year debt, as of 31 December 2024. A balance owing at a point in time serves only to reflect the position at that time. It is important that the Member recognise that the collection of rates is not static and that the…
It is worth noting that the Executive already have in place £275 million of rate relief for businesses. That figure is not often quoted or used, but it is important to be aware of it when we work out the equation about what we want to do next. My Department is offering significant rate relief to a range of businesses.…
Of course it will inform my Department's thinking, and it will inform my thinking. I hope that it will also inform Members' thinking. It is vital that the decision-making process move forward on the basis of evidence and data, and the analysis that we are doing will allow us to do that. As I said in the Chamber…
Rates are the only local taxation available to the Executive and the Assembly. While I can understand the focus on rates, any changes will require legislation, which is possible. If we are to reduce the hospitality sector's rates base, however, we must ask whether we will reduce public services or add the burden…
Not directly, but there may be childcare businesses that are represented by the various organisations that I am meeting tomorrow, and their voices may be heard through that. It is worth pointing out, however, that, as a proposal in the draft Programme for Government, we have doubled the amount of money going into the…
I am meeting the business sectors tomorrow for a round-table discussion. I look forward to listening to them about the challenges and opportunities facing their sector as we move forward. I am committed to working with them. I have already lobbied the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary of State quite…
The research on the cost of doing business being undertaken by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC) is on track to be delivered by the end of the month. The study was commissioned following concerns raised in the aftermath of the Chancellor’s autumn Budget. Employers, understandably, have significant…
Ring-fencing is an option for the Executive. I make recommendations to the Executive on the Budget, and ring-fencing allocations for specific cases in any Department will be an option for the Executive. If I were to make recommendations on that basis, I would do so in line with the Programme for Government commitments.