Caoimhe Archibald
East Londonderry · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Taken together, that points to a scheme that is operating effectively in its early stages, while, of course, remaining under review as further evidence becomes available. <BR /> <BR />I therefore commend to the Assembly the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026.”
“I seek the Assembly's approval for the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. The statutory rule was made on 1 April and came into operation on 6 April. It is before the Assembly today under the confirmatory procedure.”
“The 2026 regulatory impact assessment estimates one-off employer familiarisation costs of up to £1·36 million, with wider HMRC implementation costs forecast at £1·5 million and annual systems maintenance costs of around £10,000. It may assist Members to note that early implementation has gone smoothly.”
“The amendment ensures the continued operation of those regulations and forms part of a wider package of legislative measures establishing statutory parental bereavement pay as an entitlement for bereaved parents.”
“The regulations before the Assembly today are a key part of that implementation and ensure the continued operation of the statutory parental bereavement pay framework. The policy objective is clear: to support bereaved working parents at a time of profound loss and provide a minimum standard of protection in law.”
“<BR /> <BR />The confirmatory procedure means that the regulations before the House today have come into operation before the Assembly debate has taken place and must then be approved by the Assembly within the relevant statutory period. In this case, the deadline for approval is 20 September 2026.”
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“I thank the Minister for that response. There is obviously need for improvement in that rail stretch. I think that everybody will agree that it is a very picturesque train journey, but it is a long one. The provision of public transport is important in enabling people to have access to work and in tackling the climate emergency. The feasibility study is being undertaken. Is there a time frame, beyond the completion of the feasibility study, for when we might see delivery?”
“I am sure that the Minister will join me in encouraging workers, in order to ensure that they are fully informed, to engage with their trade unions and the Labour Relations Agency before taking any decisions.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It is important that there is strong and unanimous condemnation of P&O's scandalous actions. P&O showed utter contempt for its workers, workers' rights and employment procedures. I am sure that the Minister will agree that it would set a very dangerous precedent if that were to go unchallenged. Strong words are one thing, but we need action. I have heard reports that the bogus, so-called enhanced payments could be time-limited or conditional on workers not taking unfair-dismissal claims. What is the legal position, and what can be done to challenge it via the Department or the Labour Relations Agency? I ask those questions because workers are essentially being bribed not to do what they are entitled to do.”
“The Bill would add to that. I hope that all MLAs will support its progress and help to get it over the line in the two weeks left in the mandate.”
“In 2017, the European Institute for Gender Equality estimated that intimate partner violence against women across EU member states cost €109 billion a year. Ultimately, employers and the business sector have to make up the substantial losses caused by the psychological and ill health consequences of violence against women, such as unpredictable absenteeism, reduced productivity, poor concentration and accidents. <BR /> <BR />The legislation will be beneficial to workers and employers. It is also part of a wider conversation about domestic abuse and the need to destigmatise it. We need to remove the shame and stigma that, far too often, are felt by the victim and not the abuser. <BR /> <BR />In this mandate, important progress has been made in tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse and sexual crime.”
“Workers need this support more than ever, and the Bill can give them paid leave to seek refuge and support services without loss of pay. <BR /> <BR />We commend the positive engagement by all parties to ensure that the Bill is prioritised and that it makes its way through the legislative process in the current mandate in order to ensure that victims of domestic abuse have the right to the support that they need and deserve. It is important that victims know that, in the face of these really difficult circumstances, they have the right to support, rather than, if they are unable to attend work while suffering or recovering from domestic abuse, having to face a potential loss of earnings or even their employment. <BR /> <BR />Again, it is worth pointing out that the Bill also makes sense from an employer or business perspective.”
“The Minister had set out his intent in relation to reporting, and he intends amendment No 26 to provide for reporting on the effectiveness of regulations that will be brought forward under the Bill. We will not oppose the amendment. Monitoring is, however, important, and we ask the Minister — perhaps the Bill sponsor will also reflect on this — whether it might be necessary to consider at Further Consideration Stage setting out in clause 2 what the reports should include or consider. <BR /> <BR />It is always worth putting what we are debating into context. According to PSNI figures, reported domestic abuse crimes increased over the pandemic to 19,036 in 2021. That is 52 recorded domestic abuse crimes a day. That is at least 52 victims, but many more when we consider the families affected, and, of course, so many more are unreported.”
“<BR /> <BR />Amendment No 9 prevents employers imposing conditions or qualification periods for leave. That is important: it ensures that leave is a day-1 right, and it prevents unfair conditions and barriers being placed in the way of workers as they try to access safe leave. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 13 clarifies the need for employers to provide paid safe leave and pay remuneration to victims. That is important in closing any loopholes that could prevent workers receiving paid time off. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 18 gives workers the right to recourse through an industrial tribunal if their employer tries to get around the legislation and refuses to offer paid leave. Those enforcement powers are essential for the Bill to have the desired effect. <BR /> <BR />I want to mention amendment Nos 26 and 27, which are on reporting.”
“<BR /> <BR />Amendment No 2 clarifies the definition of a victim and allows the Department to further develop that in regulations, ensuring that there is a modern definition of a victim that is consistent with the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act, which was passed last year. Of course, that Act extended the definition of abuse beyond physical to incorporate psychological and emotional abuse. That broader definition is important in ensuring that safe leave is accessible to as many victims as possible. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 6 gives the Department the power to define safe leave as 10 days each calendar year. We support this, as it clarifies the period for leave for workers and is in line with the intention of the Bill to provide sufficient leave.”
“I want to make some brief comments on the specific amendments tabled by the Economy Minister, and I acknowledge and thank him for his positive approach. I also thank the departmental officials for their work on the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has set out the rationale for his amendments, and we support them. We believe that they will improve the Bill and ensure that it is operable. We had reservations only about amendment No 26, and I will come to that shortly. As the Minister set out, many of the amendments are technical in nature. A few, however, are worth mentioning.”
“Sinn Féin supports the aim of the Bill, which is to provide paid leave entitlements to workers who suffer domestic abuse. My party colleagues Mary Lou McDonald and Louise O'Reilly have introduced similar legislation in the Dáil. Specifically, we support the introduction of 10 days' paid safe leave for workers and the intention of the Bill sponsor to ensure that that is a day-1 right available to all workers.”
“<BR /> <BR />There was general recognition that, while most employers may be compassionate in such circumstances, the protections could not and should not be left to individual discretion and that they should be guaranteed statutory rights. <BR /> <BR />The Committee shares the Bill sponsor's desire to see that support in place, and members understand that much of the detail will be specified in regulations brought forward by the Economy Minister, which will be subject to Committee and Assembly scrutiny. The Committee has not been able to discuss the amendments tabled by the Minister. As the Bill sponsor has not indicated an objection to any of the amendments, the Committee will not object to them. <BR /> <BR />I will now make some brief remarks on behalf of Sinn Féin.”
“That evidence was vital in informing the Committee on how safe leave would help domestic abuse victims and survivors. <BR /> <BR />The Committee explored a wide range of issues raised in the written and oral evidence. The Committee deliberated on the provisions of the Bill, and we concluded our formal clause-by-clause consideration on 26 January. The Committee was unanimous in its support of the Bill without amendment. There was overwhelming support for the introduction of the Bill from the written and oral evidence received. All 66 survey responses were positive about the introduction of a legal entitlement to safe leave and pay, with the expectation that that would be a minimum provision in ensuring that victims and survivors were supported.”
“I, too, apologise for not being able to be in the Chamber. I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate on behalf of the Committee. Consideration Stage follows an engaged and in-depth process of scrutiny by the Committee. I will touch briefly on the Committee's analysis of the Bill. At the outset, I thank the Committee team for its help and support. Its assistance has, as always, been invaluable. <BR /> <BR />The Committee heard evidence from a range of stakeholders and carried out a detailed online survey, to which it received 66 responses from organisations and representative bodies, as well as from a significant number of individuals with personal experience of domestic abuse. I put on record the Committee's appreciation for the evidence that it received from individuals who were impacted by domestic abuse.”
“We can and must look to the new opportunities in developing our green economy, new skills and jobs and different ways of working. We must ensure that the well-being of our citizens and our planet is a priority and is measured alongside economic metrics. <BR /> <BR />My final words are for our young people who went on strike and protested and have ensured that climate and biodiversity crises are on the political and policy agenda: keep shouting, keep protesting and make sure that we as political representatives make good on the promise of this legislation and deliver on its potential. I support the Bill at Final Stage.”
“It was right that their concerns were highlighted, discussed and listened to and that protections were incorporated into the legislation. I hope that those who led in challenging robustly on this legislation will continue to speak up on the other threats facing our family farms and rural way of life: the future agriculture policy, the outworking of Brexit and the trade deals being done by the British Government. Those things need challenged, too. I assure our farmers and rural communities that Sinn Féin will do what it has always done and has a clear track record on: standing up for our family farms and fair treatment for our rural communities. <BR /> <BR />We now turn to the future, and, with this legislative basis, future policies and strategies will have to align to it.”
“It means that lower-income workers, small businesses and those who work in sectors that are more dependent on fossil fuels or that produce more emissions and have more to do to decarbonise are not punished or left behind, unable to transition; that those who can afford to do their bit do it; that there is a fair and just pathway for all; and that we work together to tackle deprivation, enhance social justice and develop a greener, fairer economy and society. Those are laudable aims. We now have to deliver on them. It will be for the next Assembly to ensure that it happens, in collaboration and partnership with our communities and wider society. <BR /> <BR />A lot of the debate on this legislation focused on agriculture and our rural communities.”
“Good progress has been made from the point where the Minister asserted that it could not be done in this mandate to where we are now with a climate Bill that we have managed to find some consensus on. We now have a framework for us to work within to tackle the climate emergency that will also ensure fairer treatment. As well as being based on the principles of just transition, it provides for a just transition commission to plan a way forward, a just transition fund for agriculture to support farmers to adapt and innovate, and a climate commissioner for oversight. <BR /> <BR />It is worth stating again what just transition means.”
“The interest and strength of feeling shown reflects what is at stake, which is the very existence of our planet, as we know it, for future generations. We should not and must not, in any way, diminish the climate and biodiversity crises that our planet faces. Action to tackle those crises means changing how we and future generations live our lives. Not acting, or delaying, means catastrophe and more irreparable damage. <BR /> <BR />This Bill has evolved into what it is now: ambitious but containing safeguards and protections for our communities, achieved by Sinn Féin working with others to make strong amendments to the Bill. It has the principles of just transition enshrined in it — defined in it, in fact. It ensures consultation, collaboration and partnership. It means that future MLAs will have to sign off on regulations and plans.”
“I am delighted to contribute to the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill's Final Stage. I, too, pay tribute to and thank those who have campaigned for so long for climate legislation. I acknowledge the work of the Department; the AERA Committee — in particular, its Chairperson, my party colleague Declan McAleer — all those who provided evidence; the Bill Office; and Clare Bailey and other MLAs, including my colleague Philip McGuigan, whose work, along with that of activists, on bring forwarding the Climate Change Bill motivated the Minister to bring forward this Bill. <BR /> <BR />From today, we will no longer be the only region in these islands without its own target-led climate legislation. We have navigated a long and complicated path to get the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill to Final Stage. The engagement and debate has been useful, however.”
“— if the DUP leader really wants to help people struggling with the cost of living, he will get back to doing his job in the Executive by nominating a First Minister.”
“The cost of living is soaring beyond most people's worst imaginings, with energy prices hitting unprecedented highs, oil prices at their highest in over a decade and food prices rising. We have £300 million that, among other things, could help people with the cost of living but cannot be allocated because the DUP has put its party interest before people. That is a disgraceful dereliction of duty, and, rather than posturing —”
“The Fiscal Council talks about aligning the Budget with the PFG, and I am sure that most of us would not disagree with that intent. However, here we have a large amount of funding for important activities for which there is no ability for our locally elected Minister or us, as MLAs, to influence where it goes to ensure that it aligns with our priorities. We have DUP Ministers and representatives complaining about the draft Budget, but the big, fat elephant in the room is that one of the biggest problems facing the Departments they are responsible for is the loss of vital EU funding, which is due to the Brexit that they championed. <BR /> <BR />We face a perfect storm in respect of rising prices and rising inflation, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine has added to the upward pressure on prices.”
“Instead, we have a complete lack of detail on the much-mooted Shared Prosperity Fund, and, if the interim measure, the Community Renewal Fund, is anything to go by, we are in trouble. Those funds are being centrally administered by the British Government with no input from the Executive, no ability to ensure alignment with PFG commitments or Executive priorities and nothing to prevent duplication or provide for coordination.”
“It had modelled savings that would have a detrimental impact on our economic recovery and undermined efforts to address historical issues of poor productivity. The most striking thing about the Department for the Economy's budget for the next three years, however, was that it was getting an uplift in its allocation of £50 million over the three years, but, at the same time, it was losing £100 million of EU funding for core Department functions. <BR /> <BR />By the way, the loss of £20 million per year in European regional development fund (ERDF) money is what is putting Invest NI's budget under pressure. We have consistently heard from the British Government that they will replace our lost EU funding. However, like many British Government commitments, that has not been realised.”
“As the Chair of the Finance Committee said, today should have been the closing date for the consultation on the draft Budget for the next three years. People across the various sectors of our society were keen to make their views known, and were inputting into that process. Some of those views were critical, as were those of some MLAs. The unfortunate reality, however, is that none of those concerns, or even views of support or any input at all, can be taken into account when setting a Budget for the next three years because the DUP chose, for its own selfish electoral interests, to resign its First Minister and collapse the Executive. <BR /> <BR />The Department for the Economy's response to the draft Budget, which I outlined, was alarming.”
“If applied, the savings that have been modelled by the Department would have a detrimental impact on the development of our skills base, attempts to correct structural issues in our economy and efforts to widen opportunities to disadvantaged young people and communities. Cuts to the numbers of students and the support that is afforded to them, combined with rising tuition fees, would be likely to make further and higher education unaffordable for many. While the modelled savings are suggestions and the Minister has said that he has made no decisions, the Committee is already, understandably, receiving correspondence from sectors that will be affected by the draft Budget. <BR /> <BR />I will now make some brief comments as Sinn Féin economy spokesperson.”
“The Department set out that as approximately 73% of its budget goes on education and skills, it will be those areas that are most likely to face cuts in provision, with a knock-on impact on economic development. The Committee has expressed considerable concern about the loss of EU structural funding, as that will impact on a range of departmental provisions, such as key skills programmes like apprenticeships, as well as the ability of Invest NI to support new business.”
“I will speak first as Chair of the Economy Committee. I thank the Finance Committee and the Fiscal Council for their work on the 2022-25 Budget. The Economy Committee was briefed by officials and the Minister on the Department for the Economy's response to the draft Budget. As with most Departments, the Department for the Economy has a 2% baseline cut annually across the Budget cycle, which equates to a cut of £16·4 million per annum. Additionally, however, there is a loss of £65 million of EU structural funding per annum, which will mean a £40 million reduction per year for the provision of key departmental services. The Department is facing inescapable pressures of £78 million in 2022-23, £109 million in 2023-24 and £125 million in 2024-25. Additionally, the Department will experience a 56% reduction in conventional capital by 2024-25.”
“Our excellence in that area is globally renowned and contributes greatly to our food security. <BR /> <BR />Climate legislation might, in some respects, seem high-level, and perhaps it is not the first thing in the minds of those whom we represent every day. However, it is highly relevant. To those who are concerned about heating their homes and putting food on their tables and to the workers, families and businesses who are worried about spiralling costs the legislation is relevant and important. It can help enshrine a new approach based on social, economic and environmental well-being to create a more prosperous and more equal society. We need to talk more about that.”
“In the debates and discourse on the climate Bills, we have often talked about the concerns of sectors and the challenges that will be faced in meeting the targets that are being set. It is also important to highlight the opportunities and benefits. The obvious opportunity and benefit is the protection of our planet for future generations, and there is the benefit of a better environment. Also, there are the economic and social benefits. It is important that we as an Assembly and a society plan to harness the opportunities. We have a potential abundance of green energy that could help to create new jobs and skills opportunities as well, obviously, as securing our energy supply. We have talked a great deal about our food production during the debates.”
“They will ensure that the climate legislation is based on partnership and collaboration. We have included the just transition commission to ensure that communities and sectors can buy into and be part of the planning for transition. Climate action has to be transparent, accessible and understood by communities, which is why we have included the climate commissioner. The legislation sets us on a positive path towards achieving net zero by 2050.”
“Amendment No 44 would add further detail to the purpose of the just transition fund. Amendment No 52 would require the Department to set out how it intends to mitigate the negative impacts highlighted in the impact assessments under clause 28 on proposals and policies relating to carbon budgets. Amendment No 67 would set out further details on the climate commissioner. Amendment No 69 would require climate action plans to be brought forward within 24 months of the Bill's receiving Royal Assent. <BR /> <BR />The rest of the amendments are largely technical and continue the approach followed at Consideration Stage. The Minister's amendments are also largely technical, and, again, Philip has outlined our approach to them. <BR /> <BR />Our amendments further reinforce the approach to the Bill taken by the Assembly at Consideration Stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have aimed to ensure that an approach of collaboration and consultation is incorporated into the development of all the plans that will flow from the Bill. As Philip McGuigan outlined, the amendments in the group that stand in my name and those of my colleagues further incorporate that approach into the Bill, through the development of sectoral plans and of the proposals and policies on carbon budgets. The approach will require impact assessments to be conducted and for the special economic and social role of agriculture and the distinct characteristics of biogenic methane to be taken into account. <BR /> <BR />Philip detailed the amendments that we tabled. Amendment No 40 would recognise the island of Ireland as a single biogeographic unit.”
“Earlier today, I referred to the IPCC's latest report, which adds weight to the evidence, if that were needed, on why we require climate action now. The legislation that we are debating sets us on a clear path to net zero by 2050, as required under the Paris agreement, in order to try to limit warming to 1·5°C by the end of the century. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin's position on climate action is that it must be based on the principles of social justice. We need to have a fair and just transition. The amendments that we and others made to the Bill at Consideration Stage and the amendments tabled at Further Consideration Stage aim to ensure that the principles of a just transition underpin the legislation and the plans that are brought forward under it.”
“Mr McGuigan has outlined our position on keeping a target for 2030 but allowing for further work to be done to ensure that the 2040 targets align with achieving net zero by 2050. So, we will move amendment No 3 but not amendment No 4. <BR /> <BR />In relation to the Minister's amendments, we oppose amendment No 17, as it undermines the purpose of the Bill. It does not reflect the opinions of many farmers who want to play their part in the fight against climate change with the support of government. We all collectively can and should play our parts. Sinn Féin wants to ensure a fair path for all our communities and sectors with the support of government. The Bill can provide that.”
“<BR /> <BR />The amendments will ensure that those who are in industries that have the biggest changes to make and those who can least afford it, including lower-income workers and families, small businesses, people who are stuck in fossil fuel dependency — Members have referred to the invasion of Ukraine and the impact that that is having on prices — will be taken into account, and that any plans that are being developed must provide for a fair transition. Similarly, the big polluters and big businesses have a responsibility to step up to the plate and do their share to ensure that ambitious targets are met. <BR /> <BR />Our amendment Nos 3 and 4 are also tidying-up amendments to ensure that clause 2 and clauses 3 and 4 of the Bill align.”
“Amendment No 2 provides protection for agricultural and rural communities, ensuring that biogenic methane makes a fair and proportionate contribution to the overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. That, along with the other protections and amendments that were made at Consideration Stage to enshrine the principles of just transition, which are now clearly defined in the Bill, will provide important protections. As my colleague Philip McGuigan outlined, Sinn Féin wants to ensure that no sector and none of our communities are left behind.”
“I have listened to many people, including many young people, who are demanding climate action. I have also listened to those who have expressed concerns, including those from our rural and agricultural community who have expressed genuine concern: they want to play their part but are concerned about how the Bill's provisions will impact on them. Those communities should look at our track record, including that of previous Sinn Féin Agriculture Ministers. Our priority has been to deliver for family farms and rural communities, including protecting them against the disastrous impact of Brexit and the threat of climate change. <BR /> <BR />The amendments that have been tabled at this stage are largely technical and tidying-up amendments.”
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the Further Consideration Stage debate. I am delighted that we are at a point where the passage of this important piece of legislation is nearing its conclusion. The Bill, as amended at Consideration Stage, provides climate legislation that is ambitious and achievable and provides for a fair and just transition to net zero. <BR /> <BR />The context of the debate is the IPCC's latest report, which highlights the irreversible nature of the impacts of climate change and the need for us to take necessary and urgent action. Sinn Féin's amendments at Consideration Stage were about standing up for our communities, workers, families, rural communities and our family farms. As Philip said, there is huge interest in the Bill and in the need to tackle climate breakdown.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. She has mentioned some stakeholders, but the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission have called for the North to be removed from the modern slavery and human trafficking provisions of the Nationality and Borders Bill as it would potentially breach article 2 of the protocol, which, obviously, obliges no diminution of rights as a result of Brexit. Does she believe that those provisions would roll back on rights and equality and would they breach article 2 of the protocol?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Obviously, I share that concern. In any new strategy, it is important that we have robust targets. I note that, in the draft strategy to 2030, the target reduction in the number of people killed in collisions has decreased to 50% from the 60% target in the strategy to 2020. What is the Minister's view on that? Is she considering strengthening that target following the consultation?”
“If people feel that they fall into that category and have not yet received an email, can they get in touch with the Department?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and that update. Minister, you set out the scope of the remedy payments; you said that they will be available to those who did not receive a card due to a service failure by the Department. How are those people identified?”
“<BR /> <BR />We have already seen positive initiatives taken here by our Ministers, such as the energy support payment scheme and the rent freeze for Housing Executive tenants. We must encourage continued action on the things that we can do, but there is a limit to what we can do with our powers. There is an onus on the British Government to act also, and we should all call on them to do that.”
“<BR /> <BR />Members on the other side of the Chamber can often be quick to defend the British Government, but I do not think that they can dispute that they have not yet got to grips with the scale of the crisis facing low- and middle-income workers and families regarding the cost of living. We should all be using our voices to emphasise that we need greater intervention and action because rising prices and geopolitical forces are hitting everything from fuel to food, putting up prices for businesses that are then being passed on to consumers, workers and families. It is a vicious cycle. It is already hitting hard the people whom we represent, and we need to stand up for them.”
“Protecting jobs and family income now is incredibly important, given the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation that we are facing. Yesterday, I spoke about rising energy prices, and I welcome that the Minister responded. I was not in the Chamber when he responded, but I listened to what he had communicated, individually and collectively with the Ministers from the Scottish and Welsh Governments, to the British Government on the issue. However, we are likely to see energy prices rise considerably, still, off the back of what is happening currently in the Ukraine, and that will impact again on families and businesses.”
“That really important support, again, will be very much welcomed. However, again, I maintain that the Department for the Economy could do more and should look again at how to support businesses that have been impacted on by the latest round of restrictions. Indeed, just this morning, the Economy Committee received correspondence from the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee asking whether a repeat of the support scheme for supply chain businesses would be forthcoming, as well as correspondence from the beauty sector. The difficulties for those businesses are not going away. <BR /> <BR />The priority throughout the pandemic for the Executive and the Assembly was protecting lives and livelihoods.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will make some brief remarks as Sinn Féin's economy spokesperson. First, with regard to business support, obviously, the Finance Minister has acted where he could on hospitality and hotels following the restrictions that were brought in as a result of omicron. Last week, the Finance Minister also spoke of his intention to freeze rates for households and businesses for one year. Although that is welcome, it is disappointing that, as a result of not being able to agree the three-year Budget due to the DUP's collapsing the Executive, certainty cannot be given to households and businesses for three years, as had been planned. He also outlined that he intends to give one month's rate relief to all businesses and three months' rate relief to businesses in a number of sectors hardest hit by the pandemic.”
“<BR /> <BR />It has been difficult to track and scrutinise the Department's budget. Key issues have included the reliance on in-year allocations; consistent inaccuracy in the over-costing of COVID relief schemes; the over-costing of some COVID interventions, which prevented the reallocation of sums within the necessary time frame; the regular surrendering of significant sums because of poor planning and budget management; and the late surrendering of sums, leading to the prevention of considered reallocation. <BR /> <BR />It has been difficult for the Committee to scrutinise and monitor the Department's 2021-22 budget in a timely fashion. Concerns around over-budgeting and late allocations and surrenders have not been given the consideration by the Department that they deserve.”