John O'Dowd
Upper Bann · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“As I set out in response to the previous question, we have in place the vacant property rate relief scheme and the small business rate relief scheme, which are very successful. I set aside £10 million in the draft Budget for small business rate relief to be invested.”
“I am particularly keen to hear from those impacted by vacant commercial units and especially about how any phased increase can be implemented in a sustainable way that is fair, proportionate and sustainable within the tax system.”
“I outlined my intent to take that approach in my statement on 18 November, alongside the fact that reform of rating policy should support growth, make better use of property and ensure that the system is fair, proportionate and aligned with wider economic objectives.”
“The accelerator will operate alongside our highly successful Back in Business scheme, which has helped to bring over 100 vacant high street properties back into use since May 2024. Those issues have been the subject of considerable interest and comment in the Assembly, and it is right that we grasp the nettle now.”
“There are no circumstances in which a hard border would be good for the people of Ireland; it would not be good for anyone. Those who suggest that are being naive at best and dangerous at worst, in the sense of not understanding this society. <BR /> <BR />Rural communities along the border are one and the same.”
“This announcement represents the next step in that. That said, I also put on record my intention to strengthen support for small businesses. In that vein, £10 million has been set aside in the draft Budget to broaden the impact of the small business rate relief scheme in order to increase the number of businesses that can benefit from it.…”
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“<BR /> <BR />Finally, the Executive Office will receive £0·7 million for the ending violence against women and girls strategy, to develop the use of technological innovation in order to improve understanding and prevention of violence against women and girls. <BR /> <BR />On ring-fenced DEL, the Executive have allocated the full amount of funding available, details of which are set out in the tables that accompany the statement. To increase transparency, the statement is also accompanied by tables that outline the details of changes to departmental budgets. Included under technical adjustments are various Treasury-earmarked funding streams and Budget cover transfers from Whitehall Departments. Those reflect areas such as the Windsor framework; the immigration health surcharge; the Homes for Ukraine scheme; and the City of Derry Airport.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department for Communities will receive £9 million for new-build social housing to help meet the demand for homes. I am conscious of the pressure on the new-build social housing programme. I look forward to working with the Communities Minister, in conjunction with the Executive, on the new-build targets, as set out and agreed in the Programme for Government and the housing supply strategy. In addition, I am proposing that DFC be given first call of up to £2 million on funding in future monitoring rounds this year for new-build social housing. <BR /> <BR />The Department for the Economy will receive £2·5 million for higher education quality-related research grants, which provide strategic institutional funding to our higher education institutions in support of research activities.”
“Moreover, £1 million is being provided for the central good relations fund. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to capital DEL. The Executive have agreed allocations of just over £40 million. Those include the following: £11·3 million to the Department of Education for a range of capital works; £1 million to the Department of Finance for the office estate and fit-out costs for buildings that are managed on behalf of other Civil Service Departments; and £11·3 million to the Department for Infrastructure for pressures relating to water. DFI will also receive £3·4 million for the A1 junctions phase 2 road scheme and £1 million for local transport safety measures that are aimed at raising road standards and enhancing safety for road users.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department of Justice will receive £5 million to cover unforeseen costs to the PSNI from dealing with the recent public disorder. In addition, I propose that the Department of Justice be given first call on up to £7 million of funding in future monitoring rounds this year towards PSNI workforce recovery costs, thus recognising the importance of investing in our police workforce. I look forward to working with the Minister of Justice and the rest of the Executive to progress the delivery of the PSNI workforce recovery plan as part of the multi-year Budget process. <BR /> <BR />The Executive Office will receive £2·2 million towards ending violence against women and girls. That money will deliver further funding to women's advocacy groups and build capacity in the community and voluntary sector.”
“<BR /> <BR />In addition to the £55 million for its early learning and childcare strategy that I referred to earlier, the Department of Education will receive £12·3 million for special educational needs and £8·1 million for a range of pressures that the Education Authority faces in delivering its statutory duties. The Department of Health will receive £25 million to address a range of pressures. The Department for Infrastructure will receive £1·8 million towards the increase in the road drainage charge that it has a statutory obligation to pay, £1·3 million towards pressures facing the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) and a general allocation of £3 million to help it meet a range of other pressures, including those in Translink and NI Water.”
“Full details of the bids received, and the allocations made, are set out in the tables that accompany the statement. <BR /> <BR />I will highlight the key resource DEL allocations. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will receive £3·2 million for its bovine TB programme delivery. The programme is essential to the operation of the cattle industry. The Department for Communities will receive £0·6 million for its legislative requirement under the derating grant provided to councils. The Department for the Economy will receive £7 million to meet an inescapable pressure as a result of the shortfall in the higher education teaching grant, as well as a further £2·8 million for energy.”
“The Executive have also agreed resource DEL to capital DEL switches totalling £0·3 million for the Department of Education for its early learning and childcare strategy and to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for a nutrition R&D project. <BR /> <BR />Having taken account of those issues, the Executive had £73·2 million in resource DEL, £40·1 million in capital DEL and £176·4 million in ring-fenced resource DEL available for allocation. It will come as no surprise to Members to learn that the level of bids that Departments submitted exceeded the funding available some 12 times over for resource funding and some eight times over for capital funding. The Executive therefore had to make difficult decisions in order to ensure that the most urgent and high-priority needs were met within the constrained funding envelope available.”
“Following the Westminster Main Estimates and phase 2 of the spending review, and after adjusting for reclassifications and the indicative allocations that were agreed as part of the Budget, £78·5 million in resource DEL, £40·1 million in capital DEL and £176·4 million in ring-fenced resource DEL are available for allocation in this monitoring round. Before considering departmental bids, the Executive agreed some central allocations. As well as the £5 million in resource DEL for childcare that I referred to earlier, £0·3 million of match funding will be allocated to the Executive Office for the cross-border PEACE PLUS programme.”
“The Executive also agreed, as part of the Budget for 2025-26, how funding from the Chancellor's spring statement and the Westminster Main Estimates of £158·5 million in resource DEL and £2·4 million in capital DEL will be allocated. That funding was not provided until the Westminster Main Estimates were announced, so it could not be formally allocated in the Budget and was therefore presented as indicative allocations. The Executive also agreed in the Budget an indicative allocation of £1·1 million for FTC funding. Those 2025-26 Budget indicative allocations will be formally allocated to Departments in the June monitoring round. They can be viewed at table 5 of the statement. <BR /> <BR />I will now turn to funding that is available for allocation.”
“We are already seeing the impact of that funding, as it is enabling of the extension of the childcare subsidy scheme to school-age children from September 2025. It will also enable the stabilisation and expansion of early learning and childcare programmes and provide a further 2,000 children with 22 and a half hours of preschool education a week. That shows the Executive's commitment to supporting hard-working families.”
“Members will recall that Budget 2025-26 set aside £50 million for actions relating to an early learning childcare strategy, as well as committing to providing a further £5 million from available funding in-year. As the Executive have now agreed proposals brought forward by the Education Minister to utilise that funding, the full £55 million is being transferred to the Department of Education in this monitoring round.”
“However, my Department secured agreement with the Treasury that any FTC underspends can be used to offset the required repayments. Therefore, the remaining underspend of £51·2 million is not lost but rather reduces future liabilities. Ring-fenced resource DEL may be used for non-cash depreciation and impairment costs but cannot be used to fund other services. Due to Budget exchange limits, only £6·5 million can be carried forward to 2025-26. However, it should be noted that, of the total underspend of £314·4 million, some £266 million relates to student loan impairments and is mainly a result of the funding model used by the Treasury rather than any underspend by the Department. <BR /> <BR />I now turn to June monitoring. I will first address some prior commitments made by the Executive in agreeing Budget 2025-26.”
“As that will be offset by an equivalent reduction in the funding drawn down from the Irish Government, it has no impact on the block position. Adjusting for that and for earmarked funding that must be returned to the Treasury and including a central pressure of £3·5 million resulting from a late adjustment to the Barnett consequentials provided at Westminster Supplementary Estimates results in an overall capital DEL pressure of £11 million. As I have already stated, in line with Treasury rules, that will be offset by the easements in resource DEL, which will ensure that the overall block remains balanced and no funding is lost to the Executive. <BR /> <BR />On financial transactions capital (FTC), the total underspend is £52·5 million. The Budget exchange scheme allows only £1·3 million of FTC to be carried forward.”
“The tables accompanying the statement set out the provisional out-turn position for each Department. In resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL), Departments reported an underspend of £23·2 million. Adjusting for higher regional rates income, lower reinvestment and reform initiative (RRI) interest costs than forecast and earmarked funding that will be returned to the Treasury, the overall resource DEL underspend was £26·6 million. Of that, £11 million will be used to offset pressures in capital DEL and £15·6 million will be carried forward to the 2025-26 budgetary period. <BR /> <BR />On conventional capital DEL, the Department's net underspend position is £8·5 million. That includes an underspend of £15·6 million for the A5.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to update the Assembly on the 2024-25 provisional out-turn and the 2025-26 June monitoring exercise. <BR /> <BR />Before turning to the current year, I want to update the Assembly on the 2024-25 provisional out-turn and the resulting carry-forward under the Budget exchange scheme. As I outlined to Members on 16 June, subject to final out-turn, the Treasury has confirmed that the Executive have fulfilled the requirement to deliver a balanced Budget in 2024-25 and therefore will not be required to repay the £559 million of debt from the 2024 restoration package. While it should never have been viewed as a debt, that is still a positive outcome.”
“There is an anomaly there, and whether we have time in the remainder of the mandate to correct that is open to question, but I am certainly not protective of this in the sense that I want to retain it in my Department. There is a sensible conversation to be had, and if it makes more sense for it to be in the Department of Justice, I am more than content for it to move over to that Department. <BR /> <BR />Finally, to clarify, I have not issued any ministerial directions in the past two years or more.”
“That is reasonable for what we are asking and for what services we are bringing through. <BR /> <BR />The legislation is also open to review and will be reviewed within three years, and any changes proposed by any future Minister will have to be brought before the House for a vote. There are protections built into this as well, but, to me, the important thing is that this is about balancing rights and the power dynamic in these things, and I think that the introduction of a commissioner is a good thing. <BR /> <BR />On the question of whether this should be under the Department of Finance or the Department of Justice, I am open to that discussion.”
“In fairness, there has been a calculation. It is estimated that we do not expect the levy to be more than £150,000 per annum, which would equate to less than £40 per solicitor and barrister. I think that that is good value for money, given that we are putting in place protections and support for members of the public and oversight of the working practices for how the legal profession deals with complaints. It is only right and proper that there is independent oversight of that. We have worked quite closely with the professional bodies in that regard to bring the legislation to this stage, and we will continue to work with the professional bodies as we move forward with the role of the commissioner. We are not talking about an extravagant amount of money. The estimated cost per solicitor and barrister is £40.”
“I will in one second. <BR /> <BR />The Department sponsors the commissioner's role, as is done in the current lay observer role, and appropriate governance arrangements will continue to be in place to ensure that the role is performed in line with legislation and, importantly, the principles of 'Managing Public Money NI'. The arrangements will include regular formal governance oversight and meetings between the Department and the commissioner in which budgets and expenditure, business performance and risk management will be discussed.”
“However, we have indicated to the professional bodies that we do not expect the levy to be more than £150,000 per annum, which would equate to less than £40 for each solicitor and barrister. I think that that is a reasonable fee, considering where we are at. We are committed to working with the commissioner to ensure that any expenditure is kept to a minimum.”
“The balance of power between a member of the public and a solicitor or, for that matter, a barrister is somewhat unbalanced unless we give further protections to members of the public. That does not duplicate or replicate the mechanisms that are already in place, whether for solicitors or for barristers. It gives oversight to make sure that those systems are working properly and to show where improvements can be recommended. <BR /> <BR />On costs, the levy will be an amount that is equivalent to the expenditure of the commissioner, not including her salary. That amount will be calculated to the professional bodies at the end of each financial year. It is not possible at this stage to estimate what that might be as there are some logistical issues to finalise; for example, accommodation and support staff for the commissioner.”
“I am grateful to Members for their contributions. <BR /> <BR />As I set out, these regulations give effect to the Legal Complaints and Regulation Act 2016 by establishing the post of Legal Services Oversight Commissioner. Introducing a layperson-led complaints process against solicitors and barristers will ensure that members of the public and users of legal services here can have confidence in the services provided and, where those fall below expectations, an appropriate mechanism for complaint. That is at the crux of this and of Ms Forsythe's comments. We are equipping members of the public with a service to ensure that they will have proper recourse to a complaints process, and that complaints process will be overseen by a commissioner. I think that that is only right and proper.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“That is an important and long overdue step towards providing anyone here who is dissatisfied with aspects of services provided to them by solicitors and barristers with an appropriate complaints process. The role of the Legal Services Oversight Commissioner is vital and will help ensure that that is the case, while also providing the Department and Members with reassurances about the policy objectives of the Act that the Assembly passed. I commend the draft statutory rules to the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department will continue its engagement as the proposed commencement date of 1 September for the Act's provisions approaches and following their commencement. That will be particularly important, as the Department will review the Act's implementation after three years, with the Act requiring that the Department bring any terms of such a review to the Assembly under the negative resolution procedure. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, the draft statutory rules give effect to provisions in the Legal Complaints and Regulation Act (NI) 2016. Should the Assembly approve them, the statutory rules will come into operation on 1 September, which is when I intend to commence the provisions of the Act.”
“I reassure the Assembly that the statutory rules do not change the fundamental regulatory position that relates to the legal professions, nor do they duplicate any area of regulation. <BR /> <BR />The day-to-day operational regulations of solicitors will continue to be the responsibility of the Law Society, and the regulation of barristers will continue to be the responsibility of the structures of the Bar. The Department has consulted and engaged regularly with the professional bodies in the development of the statutory rules. We also engaged with the Finance Committee, the Justice Committee and, as I noted, the Lady Chief Justice before bringing the motions to the Assembly. I thank everyone involved for their positive engagement.”
“The three statutory rules being debated today detail the policy on the following issues: a levy paid by the professional bodies to meet the cost of the commissioner's office; penalties that the commissioner can direct in certain circumstances; and appeals against the determination of complaints under the new system. <BR /> <BR />As I noted, we have worked collaboratively to agree with the professional bodies the policy intention that underpins the statutory rules. We have also secured the agreement of the Lady Chief Justice to the appeal regulations, which allows them to be made to the High Court. The agreement ensures that we are on course to commence the Act and give effect to its full provisions from 1 September.”
“A Legal Services Oversight Commissioner, Marian Cree, was appointed in April 2017, with Marian also fulfilling the existing lay observer role of overseeing complaints against solicitors. The full provisions of the Act to provide the commissioner with the full range of powers were not commenced for a number of reasons, including the lack of an Executive and the prioritisation of resources during COVID. <BR /> <BR />Work has now progressed, in collaboration with the professional bodies, the Law Society and the Bar Council, to a stage where I am glad that the Assembly can debate the three statutory rules that will give effect to the Act's provisions.”
“Following an extensive consultation in 2006, the group made 42 recommendations across a number of areas, leading to the Department consulting on a draft legal complaints and regulations Bill in 2013. <BR /> <BR />The consultation included provisions to change the way in which complaints against lawyers are dealt with, to create new oversight arrangements for complaints handling and to make provisions for other aspects of the regulation of lawyers. The main change was the proposed introduction of an oversight arrangement for complaints against barristers in addition to solicitors. After consultation, the Bill passed Final Stage in the Assembly and received Royal Assent in April 2016.”
“The legal profession is crucial in upholding the rule of law, ensuring access to justice and protecting individual rights. The work of the profession ensures fairness, accountability and the proper functioning of the legal system. We must therefore ensure that there are proper mechanisms for people to raise concerns or complain in cases of poor performance. Let me put today's debate into context for Members. <BR /> <BR />In December 2005, a legal services review group, chaired by Professor Sir George Bain, was established to recommend to the then Minister of Finance and Personnel how the legal profession should be regulated. The group included representatives of lawyers, voluntary organisations, the business sector, consumers and academics from the legal and economic fields.”
“I beg to introduce the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill [NIA 19/22-27], which is a Bill to make further provision with respect to the administration and financing of public services in Northern Ireland, in particular, measures to provide powers to undertake certain activities, to enable charging for certain activities and to modify arrangements for financial governance.”
“I beg to introduce the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill [NIA 18/22-27], which is a Bill to make provision for the establishment and functions of the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council; and for connected purposes.”
“As he emphasised, the role of the Committee is to scrutinise the role of its Minister and the Department's spending. That is crucial to ensuring that the Executive and the Assembly run effective and efficient public services. Ms Forsythe referred to that. It is important that, in these constrained times, we make effective and efficient use of the limited resources that we have. The best place in which to scrutinise that, in my experience as an MLA, is in Committee. I therefore commend the Committees on the work they do in that field. I commend the Final Stage of the Budget (No. 2) Bill to the House.”
“As I said previously, it is useful for me as Minister to listen to the varying issues, challenges and opportunities that there are in the different Departments that the Budget finances. It has been useful in that context, although I am glad that the Bill is at Final Stage. <BR /> <BR />In answer to Mr O'Toole's comments, I hope to make a statement to the Assembly on the June monitoring round before recess. As I said at Question Time, the work on multi-year budgeting has commenced. I am tempted not to get into debate with Mr O'Toole. Sometimes our verbal jousts are enjoyable, while at other times they are not, so I will call a temporary ceasefire for this evening. My views are well on the record, as are his. <BR /> <BR />Mr Gildernew, the Chair of the Committee for Communities made an important point.”
“I thank all Members who have expressed their views in today's debate and all those who contributed to earlier debates on the Bill and to the debate on the associated Supply resolution two weeks ago. I also record my thanks to my departmental officials, who have put considerable work into this legislation while dealing with negotiations on the CSR. It has been quite an intense period for them. <BR /> <BR />The debate was short — some may say thankfully so — but we have debated the legislation and the Budget extensively, and rightly so. It deserves the attention that it has been given, and, although debates can at times be frustrating for either side, it is always useful to hear Members' views on legislation.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“Once again, I express my gratitude to the Finance Committee for giving its agreement to accelerated passage. I also thank all the departmental Committees and all Members for the scrutiny that they have been able to bring to the process. This is the Final Stage of the legislative process for the Bill. I look forward to hearing any final thoughts from Members on this important legislation.”
“As the year progresses, the Executive will make further decisions on the allocation of resources, and I will bring those decisions back to the Assembly through the spring Supplementary Estimates (SSEs) and a subsequent Budget Bill at the end of the financial year.”
“Today's Final Stage concludes this part of the legislative process of the Budget (No. 2) Bill. The Bill provides the legislative authority for the expenditure of the Departments and other bodies as set out in the Main Estimates, which were laid in the Assembly on 21 May 2025. The Main Estimates are, in turn, based on the departmental spending plans that are set out in the Executive's Budget 2025-26, which was agreed by the Assembly on 19 May 2025. The Bill provides the legislative authority for that expenditure. <BR /> <BR />My Department continues to engage with all Departments in order to ensure that the Executive have an up-to-date picture of the pressures that Departments face and how the available resources are being used.”
“I am not aware of any plans at this time, but I will follow up with the Member in writing.”
“Professor Holtham’s work was crucial to securing the agreement. He is very highly regarded across these islands for his work in the field and, particularly, in his work on a similar funding model in Wales. He is respected by the Treasury and others, so it was important to bring that independent and respected voice to the table for the engagement.”
“In financial terms, it will make around £600 million difference over the spending review period. It was crucial that we were able to secure that agreement with the Treasury and separate agriculture funding from the formula, which, in part, helped to secure that additional £600 million.”
“I stand to be corrected on this, and I will follow up with the Member in writing. While my Department has the lead on it, there may be regulations in other Departments that might cover certain parts and aspects of that work. I can explain my experiences from engaging with property management companies in my constituency and ensuring that residents, who, in many instances, are shareholders of the company, fully understand their rights and entitlements. When the shareholders fully understand their rights and entitlements, there is a more cooperative tone from the management companies. I will share more information with the Member in writing.”
“I recently met officials on that matter, and it is an area of work that I am interested in continuing. However, as with many Departments, we have limited resources and have to prioritise what programmes of work we can realistically bring forward in this mandate. I have asked my permanent secretary to bring forward a paper on the matter, including what the cost would be to bring the programme forward and, if I bring it forward, what impact that would have in other areas of work in the Department.”
“I am not sure whether actual targets have been published, but, with regard to Budget sustainability, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. As I said, our returns show that we now have a stable Budget in the sense that we have cleared what should never have been classified as a debt but was classified as such by the British Government. On confirmation of our returns, which, I am confident, will be cleared, we will no longer have that debt. We are sustainable in that sense, and we have made the necessary decisions to be sustainable, but I will still make the case that the Executive need more funding for their public services.”
“We continue to work our way through the Budget sustainability plan. I announced earlier that, as part of the returns, the Treasury and the British Government no longer require us, on confirmation of the returns, to repay around £500 million, which was part of the package for return. That is a good thing. While we still have challenging times ahead, we are in a more financially stable position than we were at the restoration of the institutions.”
“It all depends on the number of jobs for advertisement that come from the Communities Department. It would have to make a decision on whether it can afford those recruitment practices. That decision has to be made. <BR /> <BR />There is also difficulty recruiting a workforce when there are low unemployment rates. We are trying to recruit in an employment market that is quite vibrant, and there are options for many people in the employment market. People make decisions about where they apply to and for what jobs. Those challenges exist in filling posts, but it is up to each Department to bring forward a recruitment programme, and they have to make the decision on whether they can afford it.”
“My Department is responsible for recruitment on the basis that, when Departments come to us seeking recruitment, we run the process for them through NICS human resources service (HRS). However, the level of recruitment required in each Department is a matter for that Department.”
“The report covers a wide aspect, as the Member will know, of the challenges and opportunities for local businesses — certainly the challenges. I will continue to engage with the local business sector about those matters. We have consultations going on about rates and how they impact negatively and positively on businesses; positively because services and support also come from those rates to local businesses. I have shared the report with Executive colleagues so that they are aware, when they engage with the business sector or make decisions to do with it, of the challenges and opportunities that businesses face.”
“I have not received a formal reply to date, but the report formed part of the evidence pack that I presented to Treasury in relation to the comprehensive spending review.”