Debate contribution: Executive Budget

Debate contribution by Ms Paula Bradshaw on 14 September 2026.

MLA

Ms Paula Bradshaw

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

14 September 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Executive Budget

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5685831

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. As you say, I second the Alliance Party's amendment. As the proposer of the motion said in his opening remarks, we are frequently criticised for holding out the so-called begging bowl, which is why it is important that we put on record, as others have today, reference to the independent assessments of what would constitute a fair and sustainable settlement, as described in the motion. I accept that this is a complex discussion, but it is not seriously in dispute that Scotland in particular and, increasingly, Wales have more favourable Budget settlements than Northern Ireland. There are various reasons for that, ranging from population growth to the timing of different assessments of need. We could add that there are genuine particular circumstances to consider here in Northern Ireland. No one disputes that, but what is in dispute is exactly how those are literally accounted for. Our amendment leaves in the section of the motion that notes that failure to agree a Budget renders "effective planning, investment and reform" impossible. However, having an inadequate Budget also renders those things impossible. We absolutely do not kid ourselves — I do not think that the Opposition is suggesting it — that the budgetary situation is the only reason why effective planning, investment and reform does not take place. As we note in the amendment, effective planning, investment and reform will also require stable government. That will require Ministers to be able and willing to take decisions that may not be immediately popular. My party colleague Eóin Tennyson also mentioned that in his speech. Our amendment adds that we should not only go to the UK Government with a case for a fair and sustainable Budget based on other devolved Administrations but that the Finance Minister should set out how he plans to secure agreement to tackle the various crises facing public services. We have frequently noted one way to address the very real socio-economic and blatantly financial costs of segregation and division, and we are seeing the beginnings of that. Just recently, we saw another peace wall come down, and there is increasing recognition that sharing is not a moral imperative but a financial one. However, a clear package on how to speed up an end to the costs of division would surely make it easier to argue for a fairer and more sustainable Budget settlement from the UK Government and for agreement across parties on how to maximise the efficiency of the money that we spend on public services and economic development locally. Our amendment calls on the UK Government to "engage constructively". To be fair to them, under the new Prime Minister and Secretary of State, we are seeing that. It is recognised not only that Northern Ireland needs that fair and sustainable Budget settlement but that we need to maximise the efficiency of how it is used to reform these institutions. That is a very welcome development.

492 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:16 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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