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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.
The only bids that we would receive are those made through monitoring rounds. The Department of Education has benefited from monitoring rounds whenever my Department has had funds available to match its needs, and it benefited from the recent transformation fund. I think that around £27 million was directed towards…
It is often difficult to compare like for like in funding between this jurisdiction and other jurisdictions for education. As I said to Mr Brooks, the funding referred to in the independent review is at a point in time, and I think it is against the 2023-24 Budget. There has been a significant uplift in funding for…
I commend the independent review of education on its report. The findings and the implementation of that report are down to the Education Minister. The costings in the report are at a point in time; I think that they were based on the 2023-24 Budget. The position has significantly changed since then with regard to the…
Tackling educational underachievement is key to improving the life chances for individuals in our society, particularly those experiencing the most disadvantage. It is also vital for developing a thriving economy that offers opportunity for all. It is the responsibility of the education bodies and, ultimately, the…
The draft Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 That the draft Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the contributions from Members on the order, which relates to the rates exemption for ATMs in designated rural areas. As things stand, the scheme is worth continuing for those who live in isolated rural communities and still depend on the availability of cash…
I beg to move The order serves to retain the rural automatic telling machine (ATM) rates exemption scheme for the 2025-26 rating year. The scheme is an important localised measure with the policy objective of sustaining the provision of ATMs in rural areas. Previous research and analysis confirmed that stakeholders…
I thank Members for their useful comments about the order. The scheme is an integral element in rebuilding the high street, as a number of Members referenced; in fact, the scheme was developed here and copied elsewhere. It was developed by my Department and copied in England, Scotland and Wales. The scheme was…
I beg to move Before dealing with the order itself, I will set out the background to the measure. The purpose of today's legislation is to extend the Back in Business scheme, which was reintroduced in May last year. The scheme serves to incentivise the occupation of property on the high street that is long-term vacant…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Members who contributed to this important debate. A range of interesting but, perhaps, not always accurate views was expressed. The key to these matters is what we do with every pound that we raise through rates increases. It is never popular to come into a…
I beg to move As Members will be aware, the order is made annually to set the regional rate. Members will also be aware from the written ministerial statement of 19 December 2024 of the regional rates levels on which the draft Budget was predicated. Those levels were agreed by the Executive in January to ensure that…
The funding that is noted in front of you is successful and deals with part of the waste water treatment challenge that we face. I have previously said in the Chamber that, when we talk about waste water, we are often talking about hundreds of millions or hundreds of billions of pounds, but the reality is that a small…
First, I apologise to you, Mr Speaker, and to my Assembly colleagues for the administrative error that led to the delay in today's proceedings. The Executive's Programme for Government, 'Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most', has made the reform and transformation of our public services one of our nine key priorities. As…
Legislative Consent Motion: Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill, as amended in the House of Lords on 3 February 2025, dealing with territorial extent as contained in clause 2 of the…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank all the Members who expressed their views in the debate and who contributed to earlier debates on the Bill and its associated Supply resolutions. I listened with interest, and, whilst I may not agree with all the arguments presented, it is useful for me as Finance…
I beg to move Today's Final Stage debate concludes the financial legislative process for this Budget Bill in the Assembly. The Bill provides the legislative authority for the final expenditure plans of Departments and other bodies as set out in the spring Supplementary Estimates 2024-25, which were laid in the…
The Rates (Temporary Rebate) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 That the Rates (Temporary Rebate) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 be affirmed.
The Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 That the Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 be affirmed.
I beg to move Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Standing Order 39(2) states: "No date may be determined for the Final Stage of a Bill until - (a) the Speaker has considered the Bill in accordance with section 10" of the 1998 Act "and signified to the Minister ... in charge of the Bill that in his or her…
I beg to move Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank you and the Assembly for your patience and assistance with the progression of the Budget Bill. As Members will be aware, Standing Order 42(5) states: "No Bill shall pass all its required stages in the Assembly in less than ten days." That is to ensure that the…
Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Members, Chairs and Deputy Chairs who contributed to the Second Stage debate on the Budget Bill. It is very useful for me, as Finance Minister, to hear the views of the respective Committees and of Members on the important financial and economic issues…
I was not just defending my Department; I was defending the Civil Service against what I believed to be an unjustified attack. As the Member has stated, I have been around the Executive table in different modes for a number of years, so I am familiar with how the Civil Service works. When individual civil servants…
I beg to move The Second Stage debate follows the Assembly's approval yesterday of Department and other bodies' final expenditure plans as detailed in the spring Supplementary Estimates 2024-25. The Assembly also approved the Vote on Account for 2025-26, enabling Departments to utilise resources and access the cash…