Debate contribution: Reval2026
Debate contribution by Mr Matthew O'Toole on .
- MLA
- Mr Matthew O'Toole
- Party at the time
- Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Date
- 3 February 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Reval2026
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5362791
Read the official Assembly record
Text
First, happy anniversary, Minister. I was remiss in not wishing you a happy one-year anniversary. I enjoy holding you to account, and I enjoy the back and forth with you. The motion that he talked about that stands in the Opposition's name is no longer proceeding, a little bit like the LCM on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill that he mentioned earlier. He should therefore update his records in that regard. The SDLP and I, and others in the Chamber, were entirely right to call for you to pause the revaluation. It sounds as though you are now having second thoughts about the pause that you introduced. It was the right thing to do, Minister, because you would have shut down the hospitality sector had the revaluation proceeded. The question that I asked was this: would it not have been better if you had had your second thoughts before the thing was published in the first place, before businesses were forced into uncertainty, before you were forced to perform a U-turn and before your officials were forced to scramble around? The question that I am asking now is this: what is next, Minister? The pause is welcome, but businesses, workers and high streets need to know what comes next. When will you update the House?
215 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Part of an exchange
This follow-up belongs to: Topical question AQT 2001/22-27.
Assessment
Not analysed
This is the same MLA’s follow-up within the exchange on their own question. It is analysed together with that question and is not counted separately, so one question is never counted twice.
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