Debate contribution: Rating System: Proposed Changes
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 5 November 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Rating System: Proposed Changes
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4631851
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Members will be aware that, when I was last in the Chamber for Question Time on 14 October, I highlighted that my short-, medium- and long-term proposals for the rating system were with the Executive for consideration. That remains the case. I had hoped that, by now, I would have secured Executive agreement on my proposals and, as a result, been in a position to update the House on the way forward. Every pound that we spend on rate relief means reduced revenue for public services or higher rates bills for other homes and businesses. In that context, we must make sure that every rates support measure is achieving the desired policy outcome and is delivering for citizens and businesses. That is why the proposals that I brought forward outline my intention to look at every rates support measure that has been legislated for by the Executive. It is important to stress that that review does not mean removal. I intend to begin with small business rate relief, given its integral importance to our economy and small local businesses. Given the number of questions today about the impact of decisions in the autumn Budget, that is timely. I am also conscious of Members' support in the House yesterday for the rejuvenation of our high streets and town centres. I want to work with Executive colleagues to build on the reintroduction of the enhanced Back in Business scheme and look at how we can help tackle the blight of vacant properties in our towns and cities, in conjunction with other Ministers and local councils. The Executive are fast approaching a critical juncture for reaching decisions on those matters to allow sufficient time for delivering the changes so that they come into effect for April 2025. I hope that the Executive come to a decision quickly on my approach for the short, medium and long term and help me to get on with the job of making positive reforms to our rating system that are reflective of our economic environment.
338 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.94).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.94 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 1.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:30 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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