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I thank the Minister for giving way. We have noted that the Fiscal Council provides independent evidence, particularly if we are having conversations with the Treasury or other organisations. We need to look, however, at establishing a funding line whereby funding goes directly to the Fiscal Council rather than come…
I thank the Members who contributed to the Bill's Second Stage debate. I will try to cover as many of the points that were made by Members as possible. The Chair of the Committee said that he was going to be constructive. He was, for most of his contribution. The general view of Members — not ignoring the views of Mr…
I appreciate the Member's giving way. I note his concerns. I am not saying that the Executive will use an independent watchdog as cover, but it is fair enough for him to talk about that. The Fiscal Council will produce, via a law that we will scrutinise and pass, factual information that members of the public,…
The Member has just said that the Fiscal Council has advocated pay cuts. Will the Member point out where that was said, because that is a serious charge to lay at the Fiscal Council? I have read all the reports and have never seen the council once use the words, "There should be pay cuts for public-sector workers".…
On the face of it, the broad principles of the Bill are not objectionable. Greater transparency and independent scrutiny of public finances are the bare minimum that the public deserve. The Bill establishes the Fiscal Council on a permanent, statutory basis, as Members have said. Some of the Fiscal Council's…
If the Member reads further down clause 5, he will see at the very end, under subsection (5), that: "Regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly."
I apologise to Madam Principal Deputy Speaker for not being in my place earlier. I was Does the Member agree that one of the most important things about having the Fiscal Council is the ability to instil some form of fiscal discipline in the process going forward? Maybe the Minister, in his remarks about additional…
Like my colleague Diane Forsythe, I support the Bill. It is long overdue. As the Chair of the Committee said, it was to be in last year's legislative programme, but, at least, we have it in front of us today. I am one of the MLAs who would say that we should not have more fiscal powers, simply because we do not have…
On behalf of the Alliance Party I support the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill and welcome its long-awaited introduction to the Assembly after the council's formation in March 2021 on a non-statutory basis following the New Decade, New Approach agreement. Since 2021, the Fiscal Council has been instrumental in…
We welcome the Bill to underpin the Fiscal Council's work on a statutory basis. The DUP has been a consistent voice when it comes to the need to transform Northern Ireland's public finances. In particular, we continue to lead calls for a fairer fiscal framework underpinned by Treasury funding that meets the objective…
Since the Fiscal Council's establishment in 2021, it has had a significant role in improving the transparency and understanding of our public finances. By putting the Fiscal Council on a statutory footing, the Bill will bring it into line with best practice in other jurisdictions, safeguard its independence and…
Not specifically, because, under clause 4(2), in preparing a fiscal sustainability report, the Fiscal Council must consider: "(a) public revenue, (b) public borrowing and accumulated debt, (c) expenditure, and (d) such other matters as the Council considers appropriate." It does not specifically say "economic",…
I thank the Member for giving way. He makes a valid point, with which I agree. Is that not covered, however, in the fiscal sustainability reports that the Fiscal Council must produce?
I beg to move Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to move the Second Stage of the Fiscal Council Bill and open the debate on this important legislation. Members will be aware that the Executive agreed to the formation of the Fiscal Council in March 2021, when it was…
On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Today marks the beginning of the most dramatic expansion yet of the "Not for EU" labelling regime under the Windsor framework. On 5 June, the Government, in paragraph 5.11, stated: "A much greater range of products will be brought into scope of labelling…
Minister, why are the details of the 2025 budgets and grants not available in this statement or even in the communiqué, and where can MLAs find them? As of this morning, I could not find them on the website. Will there be a further opportunity in the Assembly to question you properly about the matter? After all, the…
Minister, there appears to be some doubt or a question about the Executive's ability to extend the Fáilte Ireland brands, which, particularly for waterways, would include Ireland's Hidden Heartlands and Ireland's Ancient East. Have you had conversations with the Minister for the Economy about that, because that…
I thank the Minister for her statement. My question relates to Lough Neagh, which you touched on earlier, and the River Blackwater. It may not be directly under Waterways Ireland, but there are safety and navigational issues there where no boats can pass safely. Were there conversations about that?
Minister, when it comes to North/South bodies, there seems to be a struggle within the organisation to account for its spend of public money. As your statement outlines, it has only now submitted annual accounts to this House for 2023. We are two financial years past that deadline. If that had been Northern Ireland…
Minister, thank you for your statement. You mentioned that you received an update on the progress of the construction of the Narrow Water bridge. As you know, that is a key economic and tourism project for the wider south Down and County Louth area. Minister, what work is your Department doing with Louth County…
Thank you, Minister. Minister, you mentioned the roll-out across the organisation of an emergency response service. I am curious to know what that service would entail and what functions it would be likely to perform.