Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill: Final Stage
Debate contribution by Miss Jemma Dolan on .
- MLA
- Miss Jemma Dolan
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 15 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill: Final Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5613477
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The establishment of the Fiscal Council four years ago was a positive development in improving the scrutiny of our public finances. I am pleased that the Bill has reached its Final Stage, following a year of debate and engagement on the shape of the legislation that will put the Fiscal Council on a statutory footing. It will bring the Fiscal Council into line with best practice in other jurisdictions, safeguard its independence and protect its scrutiny role. Evidence provided by similar bodies from neighbouring jurisdictions during the Committee Stage was helpful in providing us with an understanding of how they operate and what we can learn from them. At the same time, however, we must be conscious of the differences between this region and others in terms of the economic and financial powers of the respective legislatures and therefore the role of various fiscal bodies. The Bill reflects our financial framework and how the Fiscal Council currently operates, while enabling flexibility for the future, should we receive additional financial powers. It is important, therefore, that the Bill allows the Fiscal Council to evolve, should more decision-making powers be devolved. I know that the Finance Minister is keen to pursue that, because, like me, he believes that the interests of all our people are best served by those whom they elect. The OECD stated that the legislation had been developed with the principles for independent fiscal institutions in mind, which was the foundation for the Fiscal Council. The Bill will maintain and, indeed, strengthen the Fiscal Council's independence, providing it with the basis to assess the sustainability of our public finances.
270 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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