Northern Ireland Assembly, 28 May 2024

315 contributions from 62 members. The official report.

Assembly Business

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

I received correspondence from Ms Sinéad Ennis this morning advising of her resignation as Deputy Chair of the Committee for Justice. I have been notified by the nominating officer for Sinn Féin that Miss Deirdre Hargey has been nominated as the Deputy Chair of the Committee for Justice, taking effect from today, 28 May 2024.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

I further advise the Assembly that the nominating officer for Sinn Féin has reappointed Mr Conor Murphy as Minister for the Economy. Mr Murphy accepted the nomination and affirmed the Pledge of Office in my presence and that of the Clerk to the Assembly this morning. I welcome him back to the role.

I have also been notified by the nominating officer of the Ulster Unionist Party that Mr Mike Nesbitt will replace Mr Robin Swann as Minister of Health at 23.59 tonight.

Members' Statements

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

The first item in the Order Paper is Members' statements. The usual rules apply. Members have up to three minutes each.

Declan Kearney (Sinn Féin, South Antrim)

Today, Dáil Éireann finally recognises the state of Palestine. Whilst it happens 10 years after an Dáil unanimously adopted a Sinn Féin motion to do so, it is a hugely significant occasion. The right to Palestinian self-determination, sovereignty and statehood, which has now been affirmed by the Norwegian, Irish and Spanish states, stands in defiance of Israel's apartheid system in, and occupation of, Palestine.

This is day 235 of Netanyahu's genocidal war in Gaza. On Sunday night, a fireball caused by Israeli missiles fired at tents in Rafah, incinerating over 45 displaced Palestinians alive and decapitating children, was an unparalleled atrocity. It was Israel's latest response to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order for an end to the slaughter in Gaza and the announcements by Ireland, Spain and Norway. The Western Governments that have refused to stop arming and funding that murder machine are complicit in the massacre. Sunday's atrocity was the action of an Administration that is out of control. It is beyond the pale of humanity. The denial of Palestinian national and human rights is, however, now centre stage.

The moral courage of South Africa at the ICJ has been a catalyst for turning world popular opinion. Other states in Europe will now follow Ireland's lead, but more must be done to maximise international pressure. Comprehensive political and economic sanctions must be applied, and arms embargoes must be imposed. International law must be actively enforced against Netanyahu's Government.

Every citizen, business, community group and public body can play a part by using legitimate boycott and divestment policies against Israel's war economy. Every single opportunity must be used to demand a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza and the West Bank, unimpeded humanitarian access into the Gaza Strip and an end to settler colonial expansions. This Netanyahu Government have put themselves beyond all accepted international and diplomatic legal norms, and they must be totally isolated.

Gary Middleton (DUP, Foyle)

Today, I want to address a deeply troubling issue that has, once again, surfaced on social media: a video showing an appalling attack on an innocent dog in the north-west. The disgusting acts in the video are too graphic to describe. Sadly, however, the dog did not survive. This heartbreaking incident has not only shocked us but, once again, brought into focus the need for immediate and decisive action.

Animal cruelty is a heinous act that reflects the darkest aspects of human behaviour. When we witness such violence against a defenceless animal, it is a stark reminder of the cruelty that can exist in our society. Animals like the dog in that video trust us and depend on us for their well-being. Betraying that trust through abuse is morally and legally unacceptable.

The current penalties for animal cruelty are clearly insufficient to deter such acts. Too many perpetrators receive minimal punishment, which sends the wrong message that animal lives are not valued. We need to change that. The justice system must treat animal cruelty with the seriousness that it deserves, reflecting the profound emotional and social impact that those acts have in our communities.

I call on the Justice and AERA Ministers to urgently come together and act on this growing injustice in our society. Stricter sentencing for animal cruelty is essential. It will serve as a strong deterrent to potential abusers and provide a measure of justice for the victims: the animals and the communities that are affected by those crimes. Harsher penalties will also reflect our society's commitment to protect all living beings and uphold humane values.

I commend all the organisations that provide support and shelter for animals; the many groups, such as Justice for Luna, that have used their voices to speak up for innocent animals; and the overwhelming number of responsible owners who love and cherish their animals. We need Ministers across the Executive to work together to bring about tougher sentencing laws for animal cruelty. By doing so, we can help to ensure that those who commit such abhorrent acts are held accountable and that no animal has to endure such suffering again.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

I add my voice to the international community's condemnation of the murder and maiming of innocent civilians in Rafah over the past few days. The Israeli Government's pursuit of a so-called total victory in Rafah is nothing more than an attempt to annihilate the Palestinian people and everything that they hold dear. Babies, children and the elderly — all innocent, defenceless and, no doubt, extremely scared — are being caught up in the Israeli Defence Force's deadly pursuit of Hamas.

My colleague Kate Nicholl recently held a meeting in Parliament Buildings with members of the Palestinian community who live here, and I know that some Members who are in the Chamber also attended. Among the delegation was a man named Zac, who had got out of Palestine just eight days previously. He told us of the trauma that his family had to experience: first, in being displaced from their family home; and, secondly, through being moved time and time again and, on foot, having to carry children for miles from one refugee camp to another. In the camps, resources are so scarce that electricity supplies have been cut off, and even access to water is extremely limited, so, amid the fear and sadness, people seeking shelter also face starvation and acute dehydration. For the Israelis to use their prized precision munitions to target those people is beyond barbaric. Even the Palestinian Red Crescent said that the air strike on Sunday evening had targeted tents for displaced people in an area that is supposed to be a safe zone. How very tragic. It is clear that the Israeli Government are defying the International Court of Justice, which recently ordered an immediate halt to their military offensive in the Rafah area.

The UK Government must continue to exert whatever pressure they can on the Israeli Government and convince them that a path must be created towards Palestinian statehood. A meaningful ceasefire must be agreed and the exchange of hostages secured without any further delay. There is no other way forward for the Middle East.

Maolíosa McHugh (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

I mí Mheán Fómhair 2024, osclófar Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, scoil nua shaincheaptha ar an tSrath Bhán. Beidh breis agus 170 dalta ag freastal uirthi. Éacht atá ann.

Cuireadh naíscoil ar bun sa cheantar sa bhliain 1994. As an naíscoil sin a tháinig an chéad bhunscoil in 1997 agus ní raibh ar an bhunscoil chéanna ach múinteoir amháin, ceathrar daltaí agus ní bhfuair sí cistiú ar bith. Rinne pobal tiomanta, díograiseach na Gaeilge ar an tSrath Bhán, rinne sin an Ghaelscolaíocht a chothú agus a chistiú. Is de thairbhe a n-iarrachtaí a thug Martin McGuinness, nach maireann, a bhí ina Aire Oideachais san am, thug sé aitheantas oifigiúil do Ghaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh sa bhliain 2000.

De réir mar a bhí an ráchairt ar an Ghaelscolaíocht ag fás bliain i ndiaidh bliana, agus de réir mar a chonacthas nár leor ar chor ar bith an chóiríocht a bhí á cur ar fáil i seomraí sealadacha ranga, d’fhógair John O'Dowd, Aire, in 2013 go mbeadh foirgneamh nua de dhíth agus go ndéanfaí an Roinn Oideachais sin a sholáthar. Beidh toradh na hoibre sin ag muintir an tSratha Báin agus an cheantair máguaird i mí Mheán Fómhair 2024 nuair a bheidh scoil nua acu a riarfaidh ar riachtanais na dtuismitheoirí sin ar mian leo scoil trí Ghaeilge a bheith curtha roimh a gcuid páistí.

Tá tuismitheoirí, múinteoirí agus an pobal i gcoitinne tiomanta le 26 bliana anuas le soláthar don Ghaeilge a fhorbairt ar an tSrath Bhán agus is de bharr na ndaoine sin a tháinig an tionscadal seo i gcrích.

Scéal an tSratha Báin, scéal Thuaisceart na hÉireann ar mórán dóigheanna. Tá an ráchairt ar an Ghaelscolaíocht ag fás ach tá bac á chur uirthi ag an easpa cistithe don earnáil sa chóras oideachais, ní hé amháin easpa foirgneamh ach easpa sainsoláthair don dalta atá ar Ghaelscoil agus a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta oideachais air. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go gcoinneodh an Roinn buiséad cuí leis an earnáil oideachais seo atá ag fás, ionas go mbeidh cistiú cóir, cothrom ann don Ghaelscolaíocht.

Tá mé cinnte go bhfuil Gearóid Ó Dochartaigh, Gael go smior atá ar shlí na fírinne anois, agus ar ainmníodh an scoil as, tá mé cinnte de go bhfuil sé ag amharc anuas ar an méid atá bainte amach ag muintir a bhaile le 26 bliain anuas lenár dteanga dhúchais a chur chun cinn.

[Translation: In September 2024, a new, purpose-built Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh will open its doors to in excess of 170 pupils in Strabane. This is indeed a great achievement. A nursery school was established in the area in 1994, out of which grew the first primary school in 1997 with one teacher, four pupils and no funding. The dedicated and committed Irish language community in Strabane funded and promoted Irish-medium education (IME). It was because of their efforts that, in the year 2000, the late Martin McGuinness, Minister of Education, awarded official recognition to Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh. As demand for IME increased year-on-year and accommodation in temporary classrooms became totally inadequate, Minister John O’Dowd, in 2013, confirmed that a new build was necessary and would be provided by the Department of Education. The fruits of that labour will be felt by the Irish language community of Strabane and the surrounding area in September 2024 with the new build meeting the needs of those parents who wish to have their children educated through the medium of Irish. Parents ,teachers and the wider community have been committed to the development of Irish language provision in Strabane for this past 26 years, and it is to their credit that this project has come to fruition. In many ways, Strabane is an example of what continues to happen throughout the North of Ireland. The demand for IME is on the increase but is hampered by the systemic lack of funding to this sector, not only in terms of buildings but in the lack of specialist provision in meeting the needs of those with special needs who attend Irish-medium schools. It is imperative that the Department maintain budgets to this growing sector of education to ensure fair and equitable funding for Irish-medium education. The late Gearóid Ó Dochartaigh was a Gael through and through. Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh is named after Gearóid, and I am sure he is looking down with pride on his native town and what its people have achieved in the past 26 years in promoting our native tongue.]

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

The Member's time is up.

Phillip Brett (DUP, Belfast North)

First, Mr Speaker, I welcome you back to the Chamber. It is good to see you back in good health, sir.

I congratulate Seaview Primary School in my constituency of North Belfast, which, last week, celebrated its 90th anniversary, representing 90 years of excellent education provision to the community of lower north Belfast. Communities across north Belfast came together, rightly, to celebrate the school and all that it has achieved in the past 90 years. It was a beacon of hope and a sanctuary of safety for pupils during many of the darkest days in the history of north Belfast.

The school has produced some wonderful people who continue to live, work and dedicate their lives to improving the lives of all those who call north Belfast "home".

A fitting tribute for the 90th anniversary would be the advancement of the new-build primary school at the site, and I know that my colleague Minister Givan continues to advance those proposals. For many years, the school has continued to operate in suboptimal conditions, and it is vital that, in this 90th year and to mark the special anniversary, we deliver a school that is fit for purpose and fits the needs of the entire community of north Belfast. I take the opportunity to congratulate Mrs Latham, the principal, and the staff, parents and pupils for this wonderful achievement, and we look forward to celebrating an even better anniversary at the new school facilities.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

Mr Speaker, I welcome you back to the Chair, as Mr Brett did. I also associate myself with the remarks that were made about the abhorrent and appalling actions of the Netanyahu regime in Rafah over the past few days and endorse what was said about Palestinian statehood and Ireland recognising it. That is a huge step forward, but, sadly, it is not enough at the minute for the innocent people cowering in Gaza.

We know that the public of Northern Ireland do not think very much of this institution, and they do not think very much of politics or politicians here in general. We have been back in the Chamber and around the Executive table for less than four months. In that time, we have debated motion after motion, most of which have acknowledged the collapsing state of our public services. All of the parties that entered into the Executive and, indeed, the Opposition have acknowledged the parlous state of our finances and our public services. The public, in that context, rightly and understandably expected their politicians at a devolved level to be 100% focused on dealing with those issues, particularly those who were fortunate enough to take up ministerial office and sign the Pledge of Office. Therefore, it is profoundly disappointing, to say the least, that, in the past few days, after the election was called, we have found out that at least two Executive Ministers will run for office. Three and a half months into the Executive's being restored, with our public finances in a state of utter collapse and our public services in ruin, Ministers who solemnly took the Pledge of Office are running to leave office.

We wonder why people distrust politics. We wonder why people have contempt for Stormont. Then, the Health Minister, with the NHS among the worst health services in western Europe, resigns, as we found out, at midnight tonight, and the Justice Minister, days after telling us of the parlous state of our justice system, says that she will resign to run for a Back-Bench position.

My party will always acknowledge the importance of Westminster. We hope to send as many SDLP MPs back as possible to stand up for this place and, hopefully, get rid of the Tory regime. However, when leaders who have carved out a niche, including, it has to be said, the leader of the Alliance Party, in calling out others for walking away from devolution at the first opportunity walk away or seek to walk away from devolution, that, I am afraid, has to be called out. We can all play party political games, but, when we came back here in February, we said that our priority was public services. It is a shame that —

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Mr O'Toole, your time has gone.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

— certain Executive Ministers are not standing by that.

Emma Sheerin (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I rise on a somewhat bittersweet note to congratulate STEPS, a mental health charity in my area, on its 12th anniversary. STEPS was founded almost 12 years ago — it is having a celebration at the end of this week — to address the epidemic that we have in our area. At that time, Draperstown was the suicide capital of mid-Ulster, and the community, including some concerned families and people who had been affected, came together to try to break the stigma of suicide; to raise support for those affected by it, including those who had lost loved ones; to tell people that it was OK not to be OK; and to help people with mental ill health.

It is particularly poignant that STEPS's 12th anniversary occurs at the end of this week, given that our community has recently been affected by the tragedy of suicide once again, the second in just over two months.

It is an important conversation to have, and it is something that we need to speak about in order to break the stigma of suicide and to support one another. I congratulate all those who volunteer for STEPS on the various initiatives that they run, from hillwalking to yoga and Pilates, and the counselling that they provide, but there is still an awful lot for us to do.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the incident over the weekend in Cookstown. I tell the migrant worker population that has made its home there and in the surrounding areas across mid-Ulster that we do not tolerate or condone the racist graffiti that we saw daubed on shopfronts across Cookstown at the weekend and that the people of mid-Ulster stand in solidarity with all who have made their home there, welcome them and recognise the contribution that they have made. The negativity that surrounds those sorts of incidents and the impact that they have on people's mental health cannot be ignored, given the week that is in it.

Gerry Carroll (People Before Profit Alliance, Belfast West)

A "tragic mistake" is what chief terrorist Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the bombing of a collection of refugee tents in Gaza just a few days ago. That is not true. It is a complete fabrication once again from him and Israel. The Israeli state has some of the most deadly but precise and sophisticated weaponry in the world. It knew exactly what it was doing and knows exactly what it is doing. As recent revelations about its AI weaponry have shown, it knows exactly how many people are in buildings and tents and how many Palestinians it will kill with each and every missile fired and bomb dropped.

The Israeli Government and state simply do not care. They do not care when building illegal settlements, stealing the land of Palestinians. They do not care when tens of thousands are killed by their bombs. To Israel and its backers, they are simply collateral. To Israel, the Palestinians whom they kill are nameless, but we know that they have names, families, hopes, dreams and desires, all of which are wiped out in seconds by Israel's deadly bombs.

We have heard for months butcher Joe Biden repeat the lie about beheaded babies, referring to Israeli children. We then see over the weekend actual beheaded and mutilated Palestinian babies. No pictures are held up by Biden, von der Leyen, Sunak or Starmer. Once again to those in power who fund the murder machine, Palestinian lives do not matter. They matter to us in this city and across this island, however.

In response to the recent events, we need to see urgent and swift action. The Israeli ambassador to Ireland has been recalled by Tel Aviv. Our message is, "Don't come back. You're not welcome on this island". Rishi Sunak needs to stop sending weapons, money and aid to Israel, and Keir Starmer needs to grow a spine and commit to that as well. We need to see the Irish Government suspend all trade with Israel. We need to see sanctions and sanctions and sanctions on Israel to stop the terror. Despite the actions of Israel, the Palestinian people and Palestine will never die.

Paul Frew (DUP, North Antrim)

Mr Speaker, I, too, wish you well on your return after a spate of illness.

This Friday and Saturday, those who attend the Ballymoney show will enjoy a really good show, as will those who attend the Ballymena show on Saturday 15 June. In the farming community, however, there are many stresses and strains: the isolation of the work and the associated loneliness; worries about the crop and livestock; the risks and dangers on the farm; and stress about the weather. All have an impact on the mental health not only of the farmer who works the land but of the wider family.

Today, in the week before the Ballymoney show, I want to raise awareness about mental health in our farming communities. No matter where you are, there is the same stress and strain. I worry about members of the North Antrim farming community and the impact that all those conditions have on the lives and health of its members. We know that the health service is not in any fit state to help anyone with their mental health. It is so unfortunate that, at this time, we have a Health Minister who, instead of looking towards the farming community in North Antrim, is looking towards South Antrim. Instead of having a Health Minister who is prepared to tackle mental health waiting lists, we have a Health Minister who is looking towards a Westminster election. That is regrettable. I wish it were not so. We need all the help that we can get for the farming community in North Antrim, so that is regrettable.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I, too, share the comments of my colleagues in the House in welcoming you back to the Chair, Mr Speaker.

A very drenched Tory Prime Minister called an election in recent days. It was a solemn reminder of the chaos that has lingered at the fingertips of this Government for well over a decade. I can happily say that we will be happy to see the back of the Tory Administration at Number 10 and will welcome the new, incoming Government.

At this time, we have major challenges in Northern Ireland and major hurdles to overcome, particularly with the health service, education and the state of our roads etc, as well as with how the Assembly is funded. We have heard from the First Minister and deputy First Minister since the return of the Assembly and from other colleagues, particularly those from Sinn Féin, about how underfunded this place is and how much the Tories are to blame. I do not dispute that the Tories are to blame for quite a lot of the financial issues that we face. It is, however, more important than ever, now that we will, hopefully, see a new Administration — although there could be a hung Parliament — that we have MPs from across the 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland who actually show up.

We talked about the importance of showing up to this House to get the work done and deliver for people on the ground, but what about showing up to Westminster? In the absence of this institution for the past number of years, my constituents in West Tyrone were left completely voiceless, because we were not able to speak up for them in this House and no one was speaking up for them in London. If Sinn Féin is serious about wanting to see this place being better resourced and better funded, it is surely better to be there rather than being outside shouting in. That really does not benefit anybody — certainly not my constituents in West Tyrone or those in any other constituencies where that policy is in place. Over the past few days, we have heard the First Minister and, indeed, the MP for my constituency saying that now is the time for change. What will change? Is Sinn Féin going to change its abstentionist policy? Will it review its approach?

The truth is that abstentionism does not serve our constituents well. It only serves the selfish, narrow political interests of Sinn Féin. SDLP MPs have shown for decades that they can deliver at Westminster, their votes count and people's voices can be heard in that Chamber. That is why we have two outstanding MPs, Colum Eastwood and Claire Hanna. It is a great pity that my constituents have been deprived of that for the past 23 years, and I hope that, if Sinn Féin really cares about the state of our finances in Northern Ireland, its MPs will take up their seats, go to Westminster and demand better for people, instead of standing outside huffing about it.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

I join others in welcoming you back, Mr Speaker.

The calling of the general election puts a fresh focus on the degree to which the people of Northern Ireland have been disenfranchised by the protocol. As MLAs, we already know, although some do not care, about the fact that 300 areas of law that should be disposed of mostly in this House are, instead, in the hands of a foreign Parliament, courtesy of the EU protocol. Now, we will elect a Parliament that, amazingly, is proclaimed to be the Mother of Parliaments, the sovereign Parliament of the United Kingdom, yet it will be unable, as we have seen, to legislate in certain areas for all parts of the United Kingdom.

We saw, when it passed the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 and the Illegal Migration Act 2023, and would have seen, had it had time to pass the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, that none of that legislation could be applied to Northern Ireland. Why? Because sovereignty over key areas had been surrendered to a foreign Parliament and jurisdiction. Is it not ironic that, when we come to elect to a Westminster Parliament, we will be electing MPs who, just as we in this place and their people are, are disenfranchised when it comes to the extent of the legislation they can pass?

The other major impact of the calling of an election is that the DUP's 'Safeguarding the Union' document falls flat on its face in terms of its delivery. We were initially told that it abolished the Irish Sea border and led to our being fully restored within the United Kingdom, but, after those lies fell to the ground, the assurance was, "Oh, it is a work in progress". Now we discover that the deliverer of that progress has cut and run and that there will be no delivery. First, the DUP jumped, and then there was the fact that the Prime Minister knew perfectly well when he would go to the polls and that he would never deliver on the promises that he was making, and so 'Safeguarding the Union', for what it was worth, has been left marooned and undelivered. Such is the consequence when you surrender sovereignty over your nation.

Assembly Business

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Mr Declan McAleer has sought leave to present a public petition in accordance with Standing Order 22. The Member will have up to three minutes in which to speak.

Declan McAleer (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

Dean Maguirc College in Carrickmore, County Tyrone, is a thriving college at the heart of our community. It is oversubscribed every year but is capped at 80 places a year, with a total enrolment cap of 440 places. That unfair cap is holding back the Dean and restricting pupils' choice to attend a thriving, rural, all-ability school. The college has sought to get an increase to those numbers on many occasions, but those attempts have been met with resistance from the employing authority, namely the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS). The college continues to be oversubscribed by up to 50% each year for year 8 places, and this September will see the pupil population reach approximately 670.

The Department of Education identified Dean Maguirc as a college that has to continue to seek temporary variations to enable it to meet the demand for places. The Department's recent pilot exercise gave hope that the cap on numbers could be increased to 100 a year and 600 overall, which would be more indicative of the present numbers. The college did not, however, get its numbers increased through that normalisation process, which was disappointing, especially given that 21 other schools were given the go-ahead to increase their enrolment cap. That decision triggered a huge local reaction, and the whole community rallied round to support the call for the Dean by signing a petition to lift the cap. A huge number — 7,000 people — have signed the petition, which I have here, over the past number of weeks. That is a huge vote of confidence in Dean Maguirc. I especially want to thank the young people — the pupils — who led on the petition, brought it home to their families, friends and neighbours to get them to sign it and put it in local shops, youth clubs, churches and other places for people to sign it over the past weeks. That huge response is testament to the high standard of education and learning in Dean Maguirc.

I proudly declare an interest as a past pupil of Dean Maguirc, a parent of two children who are pupils there and a parent of our eldest son, who finished his studies there a couple of years ago.

I recently attended a constructive meeting with the Minister, CCMS, representatives of the school and Órfhlaith Begley MP. We are hopeful that the enrolment cap at Dean Maguirc can be raised to reflect the school's actual numbers. As such, I bring the petition to the House and will present it to the Education Minister this afternoon. I take this opportunity to call on the CCMS and the Department of Education to move at pace on the development proposal to lift the enrolment cap, acknowledging Dean Maguirc as a growing post-primary school that is at the heart of our community.

Mr McAleer moved forward and laid the petition on the Table.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

I will forward the petition to the Minister of Education and send a copy to the Committee.

Executive Committee Business

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

I beg to move

That the draft Period Products (Department for Infrastructure Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

The Business Committee has agreed that there should be no time limit on the debate. I call on the Minister to open the debate.

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.

[Translation: Thank you, Mr Speaker.]

I am pleased to bring the statutory rule before the Assembly for approval. The Period Products (Department for Infrastructure Specified Public Bodies) Regulations (NI) 2024 will be made under powers conferred by the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (NI) 2022. The regulations were laid before the Assembly on 24 April 2024 and are subject to the draft affirmative resolution procedure, which is the purpose of our debate today. The regulations will come into operation if approved by the Assembly.

Members will be aware that the Act, which creates a legal right of free access to period products across the North, came about as a result of a private Member's Bill brought forward by former SDLP MLA Pat Catney. I commend the vision and drive that he and fellow MLAs brought to the debate and the legislation.

(Mr Deputy Speaker [Mr Blair] in the Chair)

The purpose of the Act and the DFI regulations is to provide vital support to tackle period poverty and dignity by recognising that period products are necessary and essential items that should be made available free of charge and accessible for all persons who need to use them. Under section 2 of the Act, all Departments must specify by regulation which of their public service bodies must establish and maintain arrangements to ensure that period products are obtainable free of charge on their premises. My Department proposes to specify two public service bodies: NI Water and the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, which is known better under the trading name of Translink. The regulations will, in effect, require NI Water and Translink to provide free period products for members of the public, staff and visitors on their premises. They also provide descriptions of "premises" and "persons" for the purpose of the Act.

Products will have to be made available in all staff buildings that are used to deliver services to the public and are normally open to the public. That will comprise all 37 Translink bus and train stations, including the new Belfast Grand Central station, which will open later this year, and NI Water's Silent Valley visitor and education centre. Provision for staff and visitors will also have to be made in all Translink and NI Water administrative accommodation. My Department has liaised with Translink and NI Water as to how the regulations will be implemented on their premises. Both organisations must also carry out, in due course after the regulations come into operation, consultation exercises with product users on the specific arrangements for the free provision of period products on their individual premises.

I am pleased with how my Department will contribute to the successful delivery of the House's vision of how period poverty can be addressed, giving those who need to use period products the respect they deserve. I thank Translink and NI Water for their cooperation in introducing this important new service. I also thank the Infrastructure Committee for its prompt scrutiny of the policy and the draft regulations. I commend the motion to the Assembly and ask that the statutory rule be approved.

Deborah Erskine (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Committee for Infrastructure. As we have heard during similar debates over recent weeks, the regulations before us seek to deliver on the requirements of the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. Initially, the Committee, at its first meeting, on 14 February, considered a statutory rule on the matter that had been laid by the Department for Infrastructure in June 2023. However, the Department informed the Committee that it was necessary to update the rule to correct the year and to address some typographical errors. The policy proposals reflecting those changes were subsequently considered at the Committee meeting on 10 April.

As the Minister indicated, the Act requires the Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments to specify public bodies within their remit that will be required to establish and maintain arrangements to ensure that period products are obtainable free of charge on their premises. The rule will specify the provision by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company — Translink — and Northern Ireland Water of the products in all of their administrative accommodation and in all staff buildings that are used for the delivery of services to the public and are open to the public.

On 10 April, the Committee agreed that it was content with the proposal for the statutory rule. The draft statutory rule was subsequently considered at the Committee's meeting on 8 May, when it was noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules had raised no concerns regarding the technical aspects of the rule. The Committee agreed to recommend that the Assembly approve the draft statutory rule. I therefore support the motion on behalf of the Committee for Infrastructure.

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

I am pleased to welcome free access to period products in all public buildings. Today, we deal with those belonging specifically to DFI and its public bodies. It is a necessary step forward to ensuring equality and dignity, combating period poverty and reducing the existing stigma around menstruation. I am pleased with the role that the SDLP has played, and I commend my party colleague Pat Catney for bringing forward this progressive and transformative legislation. Access to menstrual products is a basic human right and an essential aspect of public health. It empowers individuals to participate fully in society without the burden of financial or social barriers.

This is a shining example of what can be achieved when this place works: when politicians, parties and dedicated campaign groups, such as Menstruation Matters, work together for the betterment of lives and society. The Executive must focus on social justice-driven policy and delivery that eliminates barriers from marginalised groups. As the Minister outlined, DFI, through Northern Ireland Water and, in particular, Translink, owns a healthy suite of public buildings and administrative accommodation. There is a lot of footfall, particularly in our train stations and bus depots — or "transport hubs", as they seem to be called now. When the Minister is responding, will he elaborate on whether any consideration has been given to how provision might be made on the train fleet, as, I suppose, it would not apply as much to buses? I welcome today's positive step.

Cathal Boylan (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

I welcome the motion and the progressive and positive change that it represents. The aim of the policy is to ensure that period products are available free of charge on the premises of the specified public service bodies within the remit of the Department for Infrastructure. The regulation will replace the 2023 regulations, due to technical reasons.

According to research by Plan International UK, one in seven has struggled to afford sanitary products. That should simply not be the case. We are committed to tackling period poverty and bringing about positive social change. The motion and the Period Products (Free Provision) Act aim to remove financial barriers to accessing period products.

Such essential items should be free and accessible; access to them should not place stress or a burden on those who need them. I welcome this positive change. We are committed to improving lives and helping people, families and communities.

Peter McReynolds (Alliance, Belfast East)

I will keep my remarks brief. It is with no doubt that I welcome the introduction of the regulations from an Infrastructure perspective. I remember my colleague Sian Mulholland leading the charge on this while we were councillors together in Belfast, alongside Katrina McDonnell from The Homeless Period Belfast.

Equitable access to period products in public spaces is long overdue, and I give thanks to former MLA Pat Catney for bringing this much-needed legislation forward in the Assembly. It will go some way to relieving period poverty, tackling the taboo around periods and ensuring that women and girls will not have to go without basic sanitary provision in 2024. Period products are essential items, and it is time that we started treating them as such. Today's changes will go some way to achieving that.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

I call the Minister to conclude and wind up the debate.

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

I thank the members and Chair of the Committee for their work on bringing this legislation before the House. It is an important piece of legislation, as a number of Members pointed out, and it is about ensuring that we make life that bit easier for everyone. If the Assembly can achieve that simple task, we will have achieved success. The legislation will bring benefits, each and every day, to many people by improving access to period products.

In answer to Mr Durkan's question about availability on the train fleet, under the legislation a train is not defined as a "premises". However, in the spirit of the legislation, we will continue to work with Translink to see how we can provide free period products on our trains.

In conclusion, I commend the statutory rule to the Assembly and ask that it be approved.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Thank you, Minister.

Question put and agreed to. Resolved:

That the draft Period Products (Department for Infrastructure Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

I beg to move

That the Pensions Dashboards (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 be approved.

This rule is the current replacement —.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Please resume your seat.

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

Sorry.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Thank you. The Business Committee has agreed that there should be no time limit on this debate. I call the Minister to open the debate.

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

This rule is the replacement for the original regulations that came into operation on 12 December 2022. As the regulations require the approval of the Assembly, they have been revoked and replaced on a couple of occasions, otherwise they would have expired at the end of the six-month period from the date that they came into operation.

The rule provides the framework within which pensions dashboards will operate. Pensions dashboard services are an electronic communications service that will allow individuals to see their pensions information, including the state pension, in one place online. One of the impacts of changing work patterns and automatic enrolment is that there has been an increase in the number of people with multiple pension pots. With the passage of time, those people can lose track of one or more of their pensions.

The regulations introduce requirements that will bring the pensions dashboard services into operation. The aim is to make it easier for people to access their pensions information, which will help to improve individuals' awareness and understanding of their pension and estimated retirement income. Organisations that wish to provide a pensions dashboard service will have their pensions dashboard service exist alongside the pensions dashboard service that is to be provided by the Money and Pensions Service.

The regulations introduce provisions that providers of dashboard services are required to abide by in order to be considered a qualifying pensions dashboard service. Providers must also have permission from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate in that capacity. The regulations require relevant occupational pension schemes to connect to the dashboards ecosystem and be ready to respond to data requests by the connection deadline of 31 October 2026 and in the correct data format. They also set out the requirements for organisations that wish to provide a pensions dashboard service.

They will help to ensure that pensions dashboard services can be introduced safely and within a reasonable time frame.

The delivery of pensions dashboards needs to be both timely and operationally manageable. Pensions dashboard guidance on the staged timetable for relevant occupational pension schemes to connect to the pensions dashboards ecosystem by 31 October 2026 is available on my Department's website.

By prioritising the largest pension schemes for connection to the Money and Pensions Service architecture before smaller schemes, the aim is for a comprehensive dashboard service to be available to the public at the earliest opportunity, whilst ensuring that the requirements are achievable for the pensions industry. The regulations provide that qualifying pensions dashboard services are to be made available to the general public from the dashboard's available point. That will be the date specified in a notice issued in accordance with the regulations.

The regulations also set out the various requirements that pensions dashboard services and the providers of those services will need to meet and continue to meet to be qualifying pensions dashboard services. For example, the requirements will include adherence to standards set by the Money and Pensions Service. Failure to comply with certain standards will result in a qualifying pensions dashboard service being disconnected from the dashboards ecosystem. The regulations set out the requirements that are imposed on trustees or managers of relevant occupational pensions systems. For example, they outline how schemes must cooperate with and connect to the Money and Pensions Service architecture to fulfil their duties in relation to matching an individual with their data. The regulations also set out what schemes must do to provide an individual with their pension information when requested.

Dashboards will present individuals with relatively high-level pension information. It will not be possible, for example, to transact, transfer or consolidate through the digital architecture. On receiving an individual's request to find their pension information from the dashboard's digital architecture, schemes must provide administrative data to the individual. That includes basic information about the pension, including how an individual can contact their scheme. The individual will then see information about the value of their pension both as an accrued value and as an illustration of a projected retirement income. State pension information will also be displayed, giving individuals a full picture of their pensions. Contextual information and signpost data will sit alongside those values to help users to understand the information that is displayed.

The regulations also set out a robust and effective enforcement regime that allows the Pensions Regulator to take appropriate enforcement action in the case of a failure to adhere to any of the proposed requirements and provides a significant deterrent to non-compliance. The regulations enable the Money and Pensions Service to share information with the Pensions Regulator in connection with its function under the regulations. That will support the Money and Pensions Service and the regulator in their pensions dashboard programme and compliance roles respectively and support the secure delivery of the ecosystem and pensions dashboard services. The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK general data protection duties continue to apply to the sharing of information about an individual.

The aim of the pension dashboard is to make it easier for people to access their pension information, including their state pension, which will help to improve individuals' awareness and understanding of their pension and their estimated retirement income.

Colm Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I support the Pensions Dashboards (No. 2) Regulations 2023. I thank the Minister for setting out the detail of the regulations.

The Committee considered the regulations at our meeting on 22 February, when we received a briefing from officials from the Department, who explained to members the continuity and enhancement that the regulations would bring to the pension system. Members recognised that pensions dashboards are a pivotal advancement in our pension system. They are electronic communication services that allow individuals to view all of their pension information, including the state pension, in one online location. That service is crucial in helping people to reconnect with lost pensions and for supporting better retirement planning.

It was clear to the Committee that changing work patterns and automatic enrolment have led to an increase in individuals with multiple pension pots. Over time, many people lose track of their pensions. The introduction of the pensions dashboard aims to address that issue by making it easier for people to access their pension information. It will significantly improve individuals' awareness and understanding of their pension and estimated retirement income.

I will now speak about the key provisions. The regulations will require all occupational pension schemes within their scope to connect to the pensions dashboards by the deadline of 31 October 2026. Pension schemes must be prepared to respond to data requests in the correct format in order to ensure a comprehensive and reliable service for the public at the earliest opportunity. The regulations also stipulate that any organisation wishing to provide a pensions dashboard service must meet specific criteria in order to be deemed a qualifying pensions dashboard service. That includes obtaining permission from the Financial Conduct Authority and adhering to standards set by the Money and Pensions Service.

The Committee welcomed the fact that the regulations set out a robust and effective enforcement regime that will allow the Pensions Regulator to take appropriate enforcement action in the case of a failure to adhere to any of the proposed requirements. That provision will provide a significant deterrent to non-compliance. The Committee wrote to the Department with some queries about the regulations. We asked whether all government pensions will be available on the dashboards well in advance of the connection deadline of 31 October 2026. Members were pleased to note that the state pension will be one of the first to connect to pensions dashboards and that guidance will be published setting out a staged timetable for connection. The Committee also asked whether work can be done for people who work in the EU but reside here in the North to ensure that their pension schemes will also be accessible on the dashboards. We were informed, however, that there are currently no plans to incorporate pensions based outside of here or Britain.

Finally, the Committee asked the Department to publicise the availability and location of the dashboards to ensure that anyone who is a member of an occupational pension scheme is aware of the service. It is fair to say that it is important to get that information to young people in particular in a way that is accessible. The Department informed us that access to free and impartial pensions guidance is available through MoneyHelper. Members were pleased to hear that dashboards will be launched to the public as soon as they are available, that the Money and Pensions Service will provide a MoneyHelper dashboard for those who wish to use it and that a campaign to publicise dashboards will be launched in due course.

Overall, the Committee recognised that the aim of the regulations is to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly service to help individuals understand and manage their retirement savings better. It was therefore content to recommend that the Assembly approve the regulations.

Sian Mulholland (Alliance, North Antrim)

I welcome the regulations. As the Minister mentioned, gone are the days when people had one job for life and one pension pot. The regulations have to be welcomed, particularly as we look at potentially lowering the age of auto-enrolment in pension schemas and at the need for better retirement planning. Demystifying pensions by allowing people to access and see theirs will be really important in the piece of work done on dashboards so that pensions are not just an intangible concept, where people pay money every month into a pot. I urge the Minister to look at the communication plan for the roll-out, however. It is important to make sure that the dashboards are accessible for everyone, particularly those in the later stages of retirement planning, so that they can utilise the service to its fullest. I welcome the legislation.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

I call the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, to conclude and wind on the debate.

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Committee for Communities for its support for the passing of the regulations. I also thank the Chair and the Member for North Antrim Ms Mulholland for their comments. It is fair to say that pensions are not always the most exhilarating topic of conversation, and that is because, so often, people do not really understand how they work and what their pension will mean for them. Ms Mulholland was right to highlight the fact that many people do not stay in a job for life any more. People will have various different pension pots, as is the case for many in the Chamber today. Pensions dashboards will be a really useful tool that will help people plan and prepare for their retirement and help them understand what retirement will mean for them. The process is ongoing, but today is an important step on the journey, and I am grateful to the House for its support.

Question put and agreed to. Resolved:

That the Pensions Dashboards (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 be approved.

Robin Swann (UUP, North Antrim)

I beg to move

That the draft Human Medicines (Amendments relating to Registered Dental Hygienists, Registered Dental Therapists and Registered Pharmacy Technicians) Regulations 2024 be approved.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

The Business Committee has agreed that there should be no time limit on the debate. I call the Minister to open the debate.

Robin Swann (UUP, North Antrim)

I seek the Assembly's approval for the making of the draft statutory instrument (SI), which will amend the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 or "HMRs", as they are commonly known, to allow dental hygienists and dental therapists to supply and administer specified prescription-only medicines, pharmacy or general sales list medicines in the practitioner's scope of practice, under exemption, without the use of a patient-specific direction or a patient group direction or without obtaining a prescription. The statutory instrument will also enable registered pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines using patient group directions in any setting, including the health service and the independent and voluntary sectors.

The HMRs are a set of UK laws that regulate the use of medicinal products for human use. They set out a comprehensive regime for the authorisation of products for their manufacture, import, distribution, sale and supply, for their labelling and advertising and for pharmacovigilance. Members will note that the amendments follow the completion of two UK-wide consultations to extend medicine responsibilities to the two regulated health professions.

The consultation to enable dental hygienists and dental therapists to supply and administer specific medicines under the exemptions received over 2,700 responses, with 97% of respondents agreeing with the proposals. It was highlighted that the proposals will support dental hygienists and dental therapists in providing the right care to patients to reduce unnecessary delays, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The amendments will also improve the use of a skills mix in health service dentistry to ensure that the full dental team can be utilised to deliver care to patients, which is an important element in improving access to health service dentistry. The job satisfaction of the professionals should also be improved by enabling them to work to the full scope of their practice.

The second consultation, on proposals to amend the HMRs to enable the use by pharmacy technicians of patient group directions, received over 2,200 responses, and 84% of respondents agreed with the proposals. The amendments will enable registered pharmacy technicians to use patient group directions across England, Wales and Scotland in any setting, including the health service and the independent and voluntary sectors. They will be able to provide direct care to their patients, freeing up capacity in other parts of the healthcare system by supporting community pharmacy to provide more clinical services. I point out that the role of pharmacy technician is not currently a regulated and registered healthcare profession in Northern Ireland, so these amendments to the HMRs will not enable pharmacy technicians in Northern Ireland to use the patient group directions. However, once pharmacy technicians in Northern Ireland become a regulated and registered healthcare profession, a further amendment to the HMRs may be made to permit that.

My officials attended the Health Committee on 2 May to outline the full policy intent of the draft statutory instrument and to respond to any questions that the Committee might have on the proposals. I am pleased to confirm that the Committee was content with the policy intent and agreed to the draft regulations being approved. It is with the Committee's support that I bring the statutory instrument before the wider Assembly and its Members. I commend the motion to the Assembly.

Liz Kimmins (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

I welcome the opportunity to confirm the Health Committee's support for the motion. As the Minister said, the statutory instrument amends the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, which govern the arrangements across the UK:

"for the licensing, manufacture, wholesale dealing and sale or supply of medicines for human use."

The SI introduces amendments that enable qualified registered dental therapists and hygienists and registered pharmacy technicians to sell, supply and administer certain medicines relevant to their professional practice.

The Committee was briefed by departmental officials on the proposed SI on 2 May 2024. At the briefing, the Committee sought further information about the consultation that was undertaken by the British Government, the type of medications that dental hygienists and pharmacy technicians would be allowed to prescribe and how training would be provided. At the meeting, the Committee agreed that it was content with the merits of the policy. The Committee then considered the statutory instrument at its meeting on 16 May and agreed to recommend that it be approved by the Assembly.

Robin Swann (UUP, North Antrim)

I thank the Chair of the Health Committee and its members for their contribution.

I firmly believe that the introduction of the legislative provisions will benefit patients, the profession and the wider health service from the perspective that they share a common goal or aim to make it more convenient for all UK patients to get the medicines that they need at the time when and place where they need them. The provisions will reduce the need for appointments with additional health professionals just to receive the medicines needed, which often results in unnecessary delays to the start of treatment. I therefore commend the motion on the regulations to the Assembly.

Before I finish, this may be the last occasion on which I address the Assembly as Health Minister, so I take the opportunity to thank Members for the support that they have given me in the role. I thank both Chairs of the Health Committee who served during my tenure, the officers and officials of the House and the Department officials who have supported me in this role. However, most of all, I thank the members of the healthcare profession, no matter where they worked across Northern Ireland or which role they were in, for the work and dedication that they gave the people of Northern Ireland throughout challenging times during the pandemic and especially in the last few months. Thank you, Deputy Speaker, for allowing me the opportunity to make those few personal comments.

I commend the motion on the regulations to the Assembly.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Minister, thank you.

Question put and agreed to. Resolved:

That the draft Human Medicines (Amendments relating to Registered Dental Hygienists, Registered Dental Therapists and Registered Pharmacy Technicians) Regulations 2024 be approved.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Members, take your ease for a moment.

Caoimhe Archibald (Sinn Féin, East Londonderry)

I beg to move

That this Assembly approves the programme of expenditure proposals for 2024-25 as announced by the Minister of Finance on 25 April 2024 and set out in the Budget document laid before the Assembly on 20 May 2024.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

The Business Committee has agreed to allow up to four hours and 30 minutes for the debate. The Minister will have up to 60 minutes to allocate at her discretion between proposing and making a winding-up speech. A Member from the Opposition will be called first and will have 10 minutes to speak. A representative of the Finance Committee will be called second and will have 10 minutes to speak. All other Members who are called to speak will have seven minutes. I call the Minister to open the debate on the motion.

Caoimhe Archibald (Sinn Féin, East Londonderry)

The restoration of the Executive on 3 February meant that there was an exceptionally tight time frame in which to develop the Budget. Despite the financial package that accompanied restoration, it was always clear that this was going to be an incredibly challenging Budget. The time frame for this Budget process did not allow for the full level of engagement that I would have wanted. My strong preference would have been to publish a draft Budget and put it out for a full 12-week consultation, and the results of that consultation would then have informed the Executive's decisions on their final Budget. Unfortunately, that was not an option; there was simply not enough time to do that. However, that is the approach that I intend to take going forward.

One-year Budgets do not create the circumstances and conditions to strategically plan the delivery of public services. To deliver the necessary change in how our services are funded and operated, we need multi-year Budgets. That was not possible though, as this is the last year of the current spending review period.

Ideally, a Finance Minister would present a Budget to the Assembly before the start of the financial year on 1 April. From a practical perspective, it was imperative that Ministers were given time to consider their Departments' priorities and financial position before considering Budget proposals. To allow for that, after discussion, the Executive agreed a short extension to the end of April for the agreement of a Budget. That target was achieved by the Executive, with a Budget being agreed on 25 April. It was not easy, and everyone around the Table had to compromise, but it paved the way for this important debate to happen before summer recess.

Of course, time was not the only challenge that the Executive faced in setting the Budget. As has been widely publicised, demand outstripped the funding available many times over. For every pound we had to allocate to day-to-day spending on public services, we had three times as many demands. Similarly, for every one pound available to spend on capital, including money for hospitals, schools and roads, we had one and a half times as many demands. With increased demands on services and rising costs, the Executive simply do not have the Budget to do everything they wish to do to provide the public services that people expect and deserve.

Many in the Chamber can tell Executive Ministers where to spend money. However, they rarely provide a proposition outlining where they would take the money from to make that happen. Simply put, additional funding for one area means less funding for another. As Finance Minister, I have tried to build consensus and focus on what we can do together, and I will continue to work with all Ministers in the Executive to meet the challenges that we face. Articulating problems is easy. However, working together to address them is what we were elected to do. I will keep working in partnership with all Ministers in the Executive to meet the challenges that we face and to continue to make the case for better funding for public services.

For over a decade, the austerity agenda of the Tories has devastated public services. That will not be corrected or fixed simply by being funded at a level of relative need. What we need is more funding for public services. The Executive are united on that, and I will continue to fight for it. I will take the fight to whomever is elected as the next British Government that our public services need additional investment to deliver for those who rely on them: for people on waiting lists; to make childcare more affordable; to invest in special educational needs; and for much-needed investment in our schools, hospitals, roads and environment. I will have the backs of our hard-working public-sector workers and work to deliver for all our citizens.

I have established and developed relationships with Treasury, and it is acutely aware of our position and our determination to ensure the best possible outcome for the Executive. Last Tuesday, I signed an interim fiscal framework with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury that secured a number of concessions. A Joint Exchequer Committee has been established, which reflects arrangements in Scotland and Wales and is an important step towards agreeing a final fiscal framework. A commitment to review the Executive's funding approach before the 2026-27 Budget was agreed. Importantly, it recognises that the Executive will continue to plan on the basis that they will be funded at or above the 124% level of relative need in future financial years. That means that concerns over falling off a cliff edge once the financial package ends in 2025-26 can be tempered.

The interim fiscal framework will also see the 24% needs-based factor applied to new Barnett consequentials from the time that the Executive were restored, rather than from the beginning of the 2024-25 financial year. That means an additional £24 million for the Executive from the spring Budget announcement alone that will be available in June monitoring. Some might say that £24 million is a drop in the ocean, given the scale of the pressures that we face, but we operate in a system where every pound matters. The needs-based factor will also apply even if the financial package brings the Executive's funding level above the level of relative need. That means that additional funding will be available from any Barnett consequentials in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

I plan to bring recommendations on the June monitoring round to the Executive at the end of June. Although I cannot provide certainty until the Westminster Main Estimates process concludes, it is likely that significant additional funding will be provided to the Executive through that process. I had expected —.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Will the Minister give way?

Caoimhe Archibald (Sinn Féin, East Londonderry)

I will come back to you.

I had expected — in fact, I was told — that the Westminster Main Estimates would be introduced before June monitoring, thereby providing certainty on the funding available. However, as per usual, the Tories prioritised self-interest by calling a general election, which has prevented that. We had initial indications from Treasury on the funding that was to be provided. While there is, of course, the potential that an incoming Government will make different decisions, it is important that the additional funding is provided to Departments at an early stage to give them the ability to plan and make decisions. Therefore, the June monitoring round will proceed to the intended timescale and assumptions will be made on the funding available on the basis of previous Treasury indications.

I am aware that some believe that the Budget should be delayed to allow the additional allocations to be included. However, Assembly approval of the Budget cannot be delayed. Not only is such an approach not permitted under section 64 of the 1998 Act but it would carry real risks. There would be a risk of overspends, as Departments would be delayed in taking decisions to live within allocations, and, worse still, it might lead to decisions being made later in the year and having harsher impacts on citizens.

Any delay in agreeing a Budget would have a corresponding impact on the Budget Bill and Main Estimates. The 65% Vote on Account was based on Royal Assent being obtained in September. If the Bill could not be introduced until after the summer recess, it would bring a real risk that Departments would reach the limit of their Vote on Account. I cannot contemplate a situation where Departments could be unable to access cash to deliver services. I caution those who are minded to do that to think through the consequences of their actions. If a balanced Budget is not agreed, the write-off of £559 million that is provided in the financial package is potentially at risk. The repayment of such an amount would severely impact on our Budget for 2025-26. Therefore, we simply cannot delay Assembly approval.

Work on a Programme for Government is ongoing, but the Budget reflects the views and priorities of the Executive: for example, setting aside £25 million to support a childcare strategy. Affordable and accessible childcare is a priority for the Executive, and, despite the challenging context, it was important to reflect that in the Budget. Of the funding that was available for allocation to general pressures, over 90% went to three Departments: Health, Education and Justice. Indeed, the Executive demonstrated their commitment to Health by allocating it over half of the overall resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) available. That sees Health baseline funding increase by £1·6 billion over the three-year period of the spending review.

Public-sector workers deserve to be paid fairly for their dedication and the services that they deliver for citizens daily. The Executive recognised that priority by agreeing a final Budget position for 2023-24 to allow pay negotiations to begin within two weeks of restoration. The Executive continue to recognise pay as a priority. Following the approach that I set out to my Executive colleagues, in order to allow pay to be settled more quickly than in recent years, my Department will now write to Departments to formally communicate that public-sector pay policy. Given the ongoing budgetary constraints, that policy will maintain that 2024-25 pay awards must be affordable within each Department's Budget settlement. It is also clear that the principle of fairness must apply to all workers. Consideration must be given to how awards can be targeted to address low pay and the payment of the real living wage.

The Budget also provides for £2·1 billion of capital expenditure by Departments, including funding for previous Executive commitments, such as flagship projects and city and growth deals.

Now that Ministers have their funding envelopes, it is for them to prioritise spending. That will undoubtedly mean difficult decisions for all Departments. In line with previous Equality Commission advice, the Executive were provided with departmental assessments of the potential equality impacts of Departments living within the baseline and of bids, if met, in considering Budget 2024-25. It is now for Departments to carry out equality impact screening and/or assessments in line with their equality schemes. The outcomes of those screenings and assessments should assist Ministers with their choices. It is my intention to bring the results of those screenings and assessments to the Executive as part of the October monitoring round. That will allow the Executive to give due regard to their section 75 duties by considering whether any changes to funding allocations are required.

Despite the challenges that the Executive faced in delivering Budget 2024-25, it provides certainty for Departments to allow them to plan and maintain the delivery of public services and to support local businesses, workers and families. I commend the Budget to the Assembly.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

Before I begin my remarks, I thank the Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee, who will step into the breach. I had two statutory roles to perform today, and it would have been difficult to do full justice to both, given my role as leader of the Opposition. I thank the Deputy Chair for doing that.

It is good news that we finally have a Budget to debate. Here it is: the 2024-25 Budget. This is the first time in two or three years that we have had a Budget to debate and vote on. It happens in unique circumstances, because not only were the institutions restored three and a half months ago, but we have a UK general election coming up for which two Ministers in the Executive formed just a few months ago to restore devolution and rescue our collapsed public services have indicated that they will step down. At the core of government is taking responsibility, and it is frustrating for the people of Northern Ireland that some of us who were elected to take responsibility and then were trusted with ministerial office have already indicated that they will step down or will step down should they be successful.

We have passed Budget Bills and Supply resolutions, which are simply legal authorisations of spending, but the Budget statement is supposed to be a statement of priorities, of strategic intent and of the choices that the Executive wish to make to improve public services and make lives better for the people of Northern Ireland, the people whom we have collectively let down for most of the past decade by not being here. Being here is not enough. Simply marking time or seeking credit for being here is not enough. As I said, of course, two Ministers will not be here should they be successful in the election.

Today's Budget statement is not a statement of strategic priorities. Given the now dozens of motions that have been passed, particularly by Executive parties, promising action on everything from Lough Neagh to holiday hunger, waiting lists and a range of other things, we would expect to have seen a statement of strategic priorities. We are not seeing that in this document. No one expected miracles, but they did expect a plan for how we will rescue public services or, at least, a broad statement of priorities matched to Budget lines.

First, as we in the Opposition have said consistently, I acknowledge that we are not in a position that any of us would seek in terms of our allocations from the UK Government. I commend the work that the Finance Minister has done to engage with the UK Government and the Treasury in that regard. There is no reason, however, why the Budget statement could not have been a more strategic and forward-looking set of priorities for how the Executive were going to go about making decisions on the allocations that they wish to make over the next three years, what they wish to prioritise and, by extension, what they are not prioritising. We have not had that yet, and the public were entitled to expect it.

Turning to the document, there is a foreword from the Minister that sets out a difficult context. It says:

"The Executive recognises the need for transformation and reform. We need to look at options to deliver efficiencies, generate revenue, enhance borrowing powers, and explore the potential for more fiscal powers."

I am not sure that too many people would disagree with that, but we have not yet seen any firm substance or clear statement of intent on any of those things. The Minister goes on to say:

"Financial sustainability in the longer term will require brave decisions, collaborative working, and a relentless focus on innovative and efficiency"

— there is a typo; it should say "innovation and efficiency" —

"in service delivery. This can only be delivered through partnership working, a willingness to accept change, to challenge the status quo and to make long term strategic decisions."

Well, we have not seen any of those long-term strategic decisions. The public in Northern Ireland have a right to expect them, given that, for most of the past decade, the institutions have been down. Indeed, for the two years or 18 months that followed the 2022 Assembly election, the Executive parties were meeting in private to discuss priorities and a Programme for Government. Not only do we not have a Programme for Government; we do not even have a strategically focused Budget.

I will come on to some of the details in the Budget. There are, of course, specific allocations that we welcome. We have acknowledged the progress that the Finance Minister has made on the fiscal framework. The fiscal framework in and of itself is welcome, but I want to wind back to what was said when the Executive financial restoration package happened. There were fevered denials from some Executive parties that they had agreed to any revenue raising; well, in plain black and white, in the new fiscal framework, there is a commitment to look at revenue raising. It would have been helpful if the Executive parties and Ministers had been upfront from the beginning with the public on that.

There is also an additional £24 million. Of course, I welcome that, to the extent that it was ever really in doubt, which is debatable. I also welcome and want to be constructive in acknowledging the fact that the Minister has said that, in the June monitoring round, she will allocate the money that has been indicated by the UK Government. I challenge the Minister to commit that if, in the months ahead, a new UK Government produce a comprehensive spending review (CSR), she will come back as soon as possible to the Chamber with a multi-year Budget and that it will be aligned to the Programme for Government that we have been promised by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister.

We need a multi-year Budget. We need a Programme for Government. We need a proper, strategic set of priorities. We have not got them yet, nor do we have clarity on some important priorities. We do not yet know how Casement Park, which is critical to delivering what could be a genuinely transformative international sporting spectacle for the city of Belfast and the whole region, will be paid for; we have no idea. It would have been helpful to have some clarity on that. We do not know about school buildings for integrated schools, which were promised funding but had it removed from them by the Executive. Despite some of the evasions that have come about on that money, Executive parties made those decisions: a ring fence was removed, and they then hastily called up the integrated schools affected and told them that they would not be getting the money. It would be helpful to have clarity on those points.

I agree with the Finance Minister that it is welcome that we are debating the Budget, despite its limitations, before the recess. I acknowledge that, but I say sincerely that the Budget is only as good as the statement of priorities that it contains, and it does not contain a serious statement of priorities. In her opening remarks, the Minister said that the people who stand up in the Chamber and suggest areas where money can be spent rarely provide solutions for where that money can be raised: that is a reasonable point. In our Opposition motions, we have consistently said where we would raise the money, and we did so in relation to ending the two-child limit. Presumably, the Minister would include Sinn Féin, DUP, Ulster Unionist and Alliance MLAs in that observation, because all those parties have tabled motions in the Chamber — motion after motion — promising action on everything, as I said, from Lough Neagh to holiday hunger to waiting lists but without specificity on how it will be paid for.

The public did not expect miracles, but they did expect a plan. This Budget is not a plan. It is not enough simply to be here. It is not enough simply to allocate money that has been granted by the Treasury, even if, as I acknowledge, the money coming is not enough of a financial settlement and austerity has had a pernicious effect on our public services. It is not enough simply to pass on those allocations and expect to be patted on the back by the public. The public expect real prioritisation and real choices. They also expect us to do our jobs. They did not expect miracles; they expected a plan. They have not got a plan.

Ministers who took the Pledge of Office just a few short months ago have spent the time since telling us how difficult public services are to run, about the fact that they are near or beyond collapse and about the fact that they are in a genuinely parlous state and that Ministers do not have enough money to improve them. The public expected those Ministers to be in office to implement this Budget and to be working hard on a Programme for Government. Instead, at the last count, more than 10% or 20% of the Executive are scurrying off to run for election. That, I am afraid, is the wrong priority, and the priorities in the Budget are the wrong ones.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Bring your remarks to a close, please.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

We should be setting priorities and delivering on them for the people of Northern Ireland, and I am afraid that this Budget does not do so.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Time is up.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

The Opposition will be voting against it.

Diane Forsythe (DUP, South Down)

I thank the Minister for her comments, and I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Finance Committee. As Members will be aware, the Finance Committee not only scrutinises the Department of Finance's budget but takes a strategic view of the Budget as a whole and, where and when possible, supports the other Statutory Committees in their scrutiny. In the short time available to it, the Committee undertook an engagement exercise to scrutinise the draft Executive Budget. The Committee's report was published last Friday, and Members received a link to it. We are grateful to the officials, academics and stakeholders who provided the evidence on which the report is based.

The Committee took evidence from Department of Finance officials on 10 April and 22 May on the Department's own budget. The first briefing was based on a flat-cash position, and, at that point, Committee members noted the challenging position and the proposals to address a £25 million shortfall. Some proposals would have had a severe limiting impact on reform initiatives that could be seen as providing significant efficiencies in the long term. The Committee sought information on the specific costs and implications if NOVA and Integr8 were to be paused or stopped and information on new projects that could not be taken forward owing to budgetary constraints. A Budget update from the Department on 22 May confirmed its budget position, with funding for Integr8 and NOVA but an £18 million shortfall. In light of the work that the Department is required to do under the interim fiscal framework, Committee members strongly advocate appropriate resourcing being immediately forthcoming.

The Committee was able to identify a number of distinct themes in the 2024-25 draft Executive Budget. Those include the challenging nature of the Budget; the problems associated with having yet another single-year Budget; the need for a Programme for Government; the lack of scrutiny applied to this Budget; the need for strategic budgeting to support economic growth; the importance of childcare; reform and sustainability; and fiscal issues and revenue raising. There is no doubt that this is a challenging Budget. The limitations of the Budget envelope mean that a significant number of bids submitted by Departments could not be met. Indeed, resource bids amounted to three times the resource available for allocation. The Committee acknowledges that a significant part of the Executive restoration package settlement from the UK Government met pay pressures. Members are mindful, however, that a number of pay claims across a range of sectors that have not yet been settled or met need to be completed out of extremely limited resources. The Fiscal Council notes a real-terms fall in resource and capital in this Budget compared with the 2023-24 Budget as being a red flag. The council sees a further red flag in every Department having budgeted for a 3% wage growth, meaning that they start the fiscal year with an inbuilt wage-cost pressure. Although the Budget is 7% higher than the Secretary of State's Budget for 2023-24, it is 2% lower than the final plan that Departments were working to by the end of 2023-24.

This is our tenth single-year Budget in a row. Most contributors to the Committee's report advocate the position that multi-year Budgets offer significantly greater stability, certainty and sustainability for Departments and the economy more widely. The Committee acknowledges that the Executive's ability to set multi-year Budgets is constrained by what the UK Government do, but single-year Budgets see rash decisions being made by deploying funds should those need to be used before the cliff edge of the end of the financial year, and that is made worse by the Budget exchange scheme's being too limited in scope and size.

The necessity of a Programme for Government to facilitate good budgeting was raised by most contributors to the Committee's report, including Social Enterprise NI and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA). A Programme for Government would make budgeting easier, thus mitigating some of the challenges that this Budget presents, with bids linked to and prioritised against it. In their evidence to the Committee, the Nevin Economic Research Institute and Pivotal highlighted a lack of any strategic goal setting underpinning the Budget. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) advocated for Budget stability and sustainability through a five- to 10-year Programme for Government, with strategic objectives to which all departmental and arm's-length bodies' business plans would align.

The Committee is greatly concerned about the lack of scrutiny of the Budget. Statutory Committees have had little opportunity to scrutinise the budgets brought forward by Departments. Committee scrutiny is a statutory role and should not, in any way, be seen as being at the discretion of the corresponding Department. In the absence of a public consultation, scrutiny by Statutory Committees becomes even more important.

In its evidence to the Committee, Ulster University Economic Policy Centre highlighted the need for strategic budgeting to support economic growth. It suggested that Departments should put much greater emphasis on aspects of their remit that drive economic growth through their budgeting. Indeed, that should have formed a key strand of the Programme for Government. The Construction Employers Federation (CEF) advocated an infrastructure commission and prioritised Budgets. It is vital that the Executive maximise their use of the reinvestment and reform initiative to ensure that the £220 million available, as highlighted in the Executive restoration package settlement, is used in the current financial year.

Good quality childcare is a key element in creating a solid foundation for addressing our skills deficit and economic growth, as well as being a vital part of any forthcoming Programme for Government. The lack of affordable, readily available childcare creates a poverty trap, making some people unable to go to work and unable to access opportunities to acquire skills. Employers for Childcare provided evidence in support of that to the Committee.

Reform and sustainability were highlighted by a number of contributors to our report. The Committee was told that the issue for health was not resources but reform. The strong message from contributors to the report is that reform is now essential against a backdrop of a challenging Budget and the sustainability required by the Executive restoration package settlement. The Executive must improve their communication with the public about what "reform" or "transformation" mean, as they are almost always associated with closures in health and education rather than increased opportunities and services. The Executive need to emphasise that local provision does not always equate to the best provision. The scope of an Executive Budget sustainability plan was outlined in the interim fiscal framework.

Fiscal issues and revenue raising were brought into focus by the Executive restoration package settlement. The Fiscal Council highlighted that the settlement provided 5% of the Budget. The council believed that the level of in-year transfers to Departments in 2023-24 highlighted the underfunding that Northern Ireland faces, reinforcing the need for a fiscal floor needs adjustment that the interim fiscal framework confirms at 24%, subject to proof that it should change. All forthcoming Barnett consequentials will attract that adjustment. The Committee greatly welcomes that and will actively support the work that needs to be done around it.

The Nevin Economic Research Institute suggested that revenue raising is not the answer to our budgetary challenges; rather, the devolved Administrations need to be properly empowered by the UK Government to work. The Fiscal Council stated that an increase in the regional rate would need to be significant to make an impact on the Budget.

That was a brief account of the Committee's report. Full details are on the Committee's web pages.

I will now speak as the DUP's finance spokesperson. We recognise the incredible challenges of this Budget but welcome the progress on the improved and continuing improvements to the fiscal framework. Gavin Robinson MP started those conversations years ago and has been relentless in his campaign to deliver improved fiscal arrangements for Northern Ireland, alongside our DUP MPs and Lords. The DUP was the only party to come out of Hillsborough Castle last year stating clearly that the financial package on offer was nowhere near enough to give Northern Ireland the solutions and sustainable financial future that it needed and deserved. Our MP team continued the fight, unlike others who cheered and praised this great package but, when faced with it in the Executive, now proclaim that it is not enough, and some cannot even support adopting a Budget to enable Departments to function. Every Minister in the Executive pitched for significantly more than they were allocated.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

Will the Member give way?

Diane Forsythe (DUP, South Down)

No, thank you.

Every Minister in the Executive was disappointed by their award, but every Minister, bar one, has put the interests of Northern Ireland first. The Budget is challenging, and we have two options. One is to take it as the best that we have right now and work hard to deliver the best outcomes whilst continuing the fight for more funding for services. The second option is to reject it, meaning that nobody gets anything: services come to a halt because the money stops; voluntary and community sector organisations immediately hit the cliff edge, as nothing can be approved beyond June; and the people of Northern Ireland have no public services and face despair.

The people of Northern Ireland deserve better. They deserve to have an Executive and Ministers committed to doing their best to maximise delivery where they can. Our DUP Ministers are doing that by delivering where they can. Our DUP Education Minister is working hard and delivering on childcare, teachers' pay, improved SEN provision and new special schools. He stands ready to deliver more at the next available opportunity. Our DUP Communities Minister worked hard to deliver on solutions for defective premises and a sign language Act —.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Will the Member bring her remarks to a close?

Diane Forsythe (DUP, South Down)

The DUP is committed to delivering and moving forward whilst fighting for a better and sustainable financial package. We support the motion.

Liz Kimmins (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

I welcome the opportunity to outline the Committee's consideration of the 2024-25 Budget. At the outset, I say that the Committee recognises the budgetary constraints and pressures that the Health Department is under in this financial year. Indeed, that goes across the wider Executive, with all Departments being under significant pressure. Over the past number of months, the Committee heard from a number of representative bodies and departmental officials about the pressures and stress that the health system is under. We heard from a number of medical professionals, including GPs, nurses, doctors, consultants and surgeons, that if improvements to the system are not made, it faces a catastrophic impact.

The Health budget makes up just over 50% of the total block grant and has significant implications for the health and well-being of the people here. It is crucial that we understand its impact and significance. We must acknowledge the importance of healthcare in our society. It is the cornerstone of a thriving and prosperous community. The allocation of funds in the Department directly affects the quality and accessibility of the healthcare services available to the citizens in our constituencies. We must therefore ensure that those funds are allocated wisely and efficiently. That is why it is important that we, as a Health Committee, undertake detailed scrutiny of the Department's spending plans and priorities for this year. It is disappointing that the Committee has not had sight of the detailed spending plans and the Minister's priorities for the incoming year. The Committee has been disappointed with the lack of detail provided to it by the Minister and the Department.

When the Budget allocations were announced, the Committee received a letter from the Minister that outlined his disappointment at the allocation that his Department received. In that letter, he advised of the possible consequences of his budget, including a halt to waiting list initiatives; no pay settlements; restrictions on the use of new drugs; suspending some vaccination programmes; and a reduction of 1·1 million hours of domiciliary care, 500 independent-sector care home beds and 140 acute hospital beds. So far, the Committee has not been advised about which of those services will be cut by the Minister.

The Committee was briefed on the Main Estimates by officials at its meeting last Thursday. Members were advised, however, that the detailed plans were still not ready, as the trusts had only just provided their plans to the Department the previous Tuesday. Committee members received correspondence from the Minister yesterday afternoon, providing an assessment of the 2024-25 Budget. Again, the paper does not provide information on prioritisation, just a number of options of what might be cut. There should be clarity on the shortfall that the Department says that there is. In a number of different letters received by the Committee, there has been some conflicting information on savings made and their impact on the shortfall. The Committee has not therefore had an opportunity to scrutinise the Department's spending plans and is unable to come to a position on the Department's plans for 2024-25.

The Committee remains committed to working with the Minister and the Department to ensure that additional funding is provided to the Department of Health throughout the year. It is important that the Department has detailed plans for how it will spend any additional allocations that it might receive during the year. As Chairperson, I am happy to support the Minister in discussions with the British Government about the additional funding for our health service. We must understand that there is little scope for transfer of funding from other Departments, and we must make the case to the British Government to support our health service workers before it is too late.

I will now speak in my role as health spokesperson for Sinn Féin. The Budget is yet another example of the harsh Tory Government austerity, the consequences of which we have borne for over a decade.

The people of the North pay their taxes to the British Government, just as the people of England, Scotland and Wales do, but we do not get the bang for our buck. We do not see a fair and equitable return for our contribution. That undoubtedly has and will continue to have a detrimental impact on our public services, particularly our health service. Even with a significant proportion of the Budget being allocated to the Department of Health, there is a major shortfall. We must get behind the Finance Minister and lobby for the funds that we need and deserve to get from the British Government.

The stance that the current Health Minister has taken is extremely disappointing. Despite some of the points made about allocations and what has or has not been provided to date, that Department has been allocated £1·6 billion over the past three years.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

Will the Member give way?

Liz Kimmins (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

I will not.

As I said, I am conscious that, by this time tomorrow, we are likely to have a new Health Minister. I am at a loss as to what that incoming Minister intends to do. As I said, we are still without a plan. We have heard about all the things that the Minister cannot do, but, sadly, information on what will be done has been lacking. We need to give people strong leadership and hope, especially in relation to health. Those who are still on picket lines and waiting lists need to see leadership that not only takes on the huge challenges that our health service faces but gives them hope that we will fight for further funding to fix our health service.

I have heard voices across the Chamber continually reverting to the need for the Executive to allocate more money to the Health Department, but I have not heard what their alternative is. From which Department will they take the money? The outgoing Health Minister indicated that he needs at least £800 million out of just over £900 million in order to stand still. That is almost 90% of the funding that is available. How do we square that circle?

I commend my colleague the Finance Minister for her work in delivering this difficult Budget in the most challenging of circumstances. I encourage the incoming Health Minister to continue to work with all Executive colleagues to support the Finance Minister to secure additional funding to enable us to deliver high-quality public services for the people we represent. In my role as Chairperson, I give a commitment to continue to work with the Minister and support him in his endeavours to tackle the huge crisis that faces our health service.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Members are reminded that the time limit is now seven minutes per Member.

Eóin Tennyson (Alliance, Upper Bann)

It is an understatement that this is an extremely challenging Budget, set in the most turbulent of circumstances. The fact that we are only now in a position to have this debate, two months into the financial year, is testament enough to that. Like so many of our Budget processes, this one has been upended by delay and disruption due to the absence of an Assembly. The constant stop-go cycle of government means that this is the tenth single-year Budget in a row, and the timing of the return of the Executive has placed us in an invidious position where the Budget must progress hastily, in the absence of a Programme for Government and without adequate consultation. Stalemate has robbed us of key opportunities to transform health and education and to negotiate a fair funding settlement with Treasury from a position of strength and stability.

That cycle of chaos and crisis is not good enough, but nor is it good enough for parties to come to the Chamber and bemoan the process that we are engaged in if they are not willing to advocate the reform that is necessary to ensure that it can never happen again. That is why Alliance has consistently and persistently led the charge to scrap the vetoes and remove the ability of any single party to hold the Assembly to ransom.

Today is not about whether we believe that the funding envelope available to the Executive is sufficient — it is clear, after a decade of Tory austerity, that it is not — but about whether we believe that the Budget before us is a fair attempt at allocating the insufficient available resources and enabling a process of further negotiation with Treasury on an improved settlement. We have heard criticism from the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists in the media, but I have not heard a single costed or credible alternative from either of those parties — not one.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

Will the Member give way?

Eóin Tennyson (Alliance, Upper Bann)

Of course I will.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

The Member will be aware that the SDLP produced a proposal on the two-child limit that had a specific costing.

Since the Member has given way, I ask him this: does he think that the cycle of collapse and resignations is helped by a Justice Minister who, three months in, wants to resign her post?

Eóin Tennyson (Alliance, Upper Bann)

For a start, that proposal would not close the £800 million gap in the Health budget.

I am glad that the Member has raised the matter of the Westminster election. It is an opportunity for us to send a message that we want to put an end to stop-start government and legislate for the reform of these institutions. Westminster is also key to a fair funding settlement to ensure that our funding formula represents objective need. We need to send strong, progressive voices to Westminster that will stand against Tory austerity and advocate for the people of Northern Ireland. Therefore, I believe that the Westminster election is important, and I am proud that strong candidates from the Alliance Party are standing.

As I said, we have heard criticism, but not one alternative has been forthcoming. The Member has demonstrated that clearly.

Robbie Butler (UUP, Lagan Valley)

Will the Member give way?

Eóin Tennyson (Alliance, Upper Bann)

In a moment.

Indeed, the Ulster Unionist finance spokesperson has spent more time advocating a cut in corporation tax than fair funding for our public services, which would have left us in an even worse position. More than that, their approach risks upending the negotiations with Treasury and squandering the progress to date. The £3·3 billion financial package is contingent on a Budget being in place. The additional funding and flexibility in the interim fiscal framework would not have been possible without Executive agreement on a Budget, and any hope of an improved funding formula will be lost without Assembly agreement on a Budget.

It is utterly bizarre — in fact, it is plain reckless — for anyone in the Chamber to suggest that we simply roll the dice and cross our fingers. The stakes are far too high and the consequences far too serious. We have heard a suggestion that we delay the Budget. Not only would there be no practical benefit in doing so but it would be at odds with our legal responsibilities. However, it underlines a key point: this is simply the opening position. It is likely that significant additional funding will flow through June monitoring and a UK spending review later this year, hopefully under a new Government.

There are stark and difficult choices for all Departments — there is no doubt about that — but there is an onus on those of us in the Executive to stand up, show leadership and actually govern. Despite the challenges, the Executive have managed to prioritise an additional £25 million for early years and childcare, an issue that has been spearheaded by my colleague Kate Nicholl. When combined with the existing UK scheme, that will save parents with two children in full-time childcare about £8,000 a year.

Despite the spin, the Department of Health has received over 50% of the available funding. Health funding is up 6% on the opening position last year, and spending on health will increase by £2 billion in comparison with 2020. We must all recognise that, while health is undoubtedly a priority, it is bigger than the Department of Health. Investment in prevention and early intervention through education, quality housing and an effective justice system is essential for good public health.

We also have the highest spend per head on health in the UK but the worst outcomes. Therefore, it is about more than money, and the Finance Committee has consistently heard in evidence about the need for reform and transformation. Instead, key recommendations for reform gather dust on a shelf, and we have seen precious little by way of plans for reconfiguration or to tackle the spiralling locum and agency costs, which have been sitting at £400 million since the Executive returned.

It is hugely disappointing, however, that, despite assurances from the Finance and Education Ministers, there is no ring-fenced allocation for the pay and grading review of the Education Authority (EA). They have, in fairness, set out a strategy of seeking permission from the Treasury to reprofile money in the financial package. Failing to agree a Budget will set back those efforts. Therefore, we will support the Budget today.

I am also clear, however, that, should the flexibility not be forthcoming, the buck stops with the Education Minister to find the money in his allocation. Simply submitting bids and wringing your hands when the allocations are inevitably insufficient is not good enough. The Minister needs to prioritise, come to the table with proposals to tackle the cost of division and stop ignoring the independent review of education and the Audit Office when it comes to projects such as Strule.

Robbie Butler (UUP, Lagan Valley)

Will the Member give way?

Eóin Tennyson (Alliance, Upper Bann)

That brings me to some of the challenges with our capital projects and allocations. I will give way.

Robbie Butler (UUP, Lagan Valley)

The Member has nearly run out of time, and he said that he would give way.

The Member mentioned uncosted pressures, but the Alliance Party has brought multiple motions to the Floor about the increasing cost of health provision. Can the Member produce the Alliance Party's costed options for those motions?

Eóin Tennyson (Alliance, Upper Bann)

The Minister has not provided the necessary information to the Committee for Health for any Member to bring forward a costed plan: therein lies the problem. We need to see prioritisation from the Department of Health, and we need to see priorities for the additional money that becomes available throughout the year, so that Members can prioritise them in terms of the available options.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Will the Member bring his remarks to a close?

Eóin Tennyson (Alliance, Upper Bann)

It is for the Department of Health and the Minister to bring forward those proposals.

We have led the way on a fair funding settlement, and we will continue to work with others to oppose Tory austerity and deliver the funding that —

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Time is up.

Eóin Tennyson (Alliance, Upper Bann)

— Northern Ireland deserves.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Thank you. Time is up.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

I will respond as the UUP's finance spokesperson to the Budget 2024-25 that has been presented today. Other members of my party will speak on their specific areas of responsibility.

At the outset, I thank those who gave evidence to the Finance Committee. In particular, I thank the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council for its 2024-25 Budget assessment report and Sir Robert Chote and his team for the evidence that they gave to our Committee. The Fiscal Council's 2024-25 Budget assessment is an exemplar of clarity and detail, and it is presented in a manner that is readily accessible and authoritative. Its 50-odd pages are probably the most concise budgetary and financial fiscal overview available. It should be compulsory reading for us all. I would like to report that the information from our own Government that was made available to me and my fellow MLAs on our scrutiny Committee was as detailed, but, regrettably, I cannot.

We are being invited to approve the programme for expenditure for 2024-25 without a Programme for Government, evidence of any prioritisation, any form of public consultations or impact assessments or any other normal procedures. Some, including the Finance Minister, have alluded to the importance of passing the Budget quickly in order to prevent, yet again, our Departments running out of cash and the consequent cascade of public service collapse. Members will, of course, remember the Budget Bill that was before us on 19 February, which went through all of its stages in two days by accelerated passage. That was described at the time as a measure that would not be repeated and would give us, in exceptional circumstances, a Vote on Account of 65%. That was agreed to allow space for a Programme for Government to be agreed before the next Budget was brought forward. However, since February, there has been no Programme for Government or even a discussion on the prioritisation of budgets. If we look at the Fiscal Council's report, we can see clearly how that should have happened but has not. The question for the Northern Ireland Executive should be, "Why?". As we can see by the speed and haste of the previous Budget Bill, which was accelerated through its stages in 48 hours, the argument of legislative and time pressure does not hold.

That the Budget under discussion today is challenging is not in doubt. In real terms, compared with the out-turn from last year, it is a 2% reduction. The figures showing the Departments' pressures and priorities in light of that position, from an Executive direction, are all lacking. We have not seen reports from all our scrutiny Committees on their analyses of their Departments, probably because they are not in receipt of the information. That question is important, because most Departments are aware of the considerable adjustment — at least a quarter of a billion pounds — that is due in the June monitoring round. That is a point that I will come to later.

Sir Robert makes it clear in his report that there is, in real terms, a fall in resource and capital for Northern Ireland. He also makes it clear that, in Northern Ireland, unlike in the rest of our great nation, health has seen a below-level uplift; in fact, we have had a 2·3% cut in the Health budget. Members will be aware that, in the absence of a Programme for Government, even after 100-plus days back, it would be expected that prioritisation would be based on the parties' manifestos, as it would be in any normal democracy. On the basis of the commitment made by the Minister's party and the DUP to give an extra £1 billion to Health and the numerous commitments made around the negotiating table at Hillsborough Castle to prioritise Health, it could reasonably have been expected that Health's allocation of the Budget would reflect that across the rest of the United Kingdom; instead, in Northern Ireland, we are taking a cut of 2·3%. We have heard much about Health being 50% of the Budget, but that is the same in the rest of our nation: it has always been 50% of the Budget. It is just not enough.

Our Health Minister has made it clear to our constituents and vital health workers the challenges that those substantive cuts will mean. No Minister could deliver on those unless there had been appropriate prioritisation, which there has not. That is a question that the electorate might ask when or if Sinn Féin, DUP or Alliance candidates knock on their doors. The Health Minister offered, at risk to delivery, to reduce what he needed to around an additional £2 million to £3 million on top of his allocation. That offer, as well my party leader's request for all parties to engage in intense closed-room negotiations with Departments to solve the Budget crisis, was rejected. That reminds us of how an Ulster Unionist Party Health Minister in a previous Assembly had his request rejected, yet, when a DUP Health Minister took over the role, the required funding was allocated immediately.

We were told to accept this Budget and the cut and to agree, even though no other party does, to collective responsibility in the Executive on the position that there was no more money. That was two weeks ago. Then we had last week's Finance Committee.

I am grateful to the senior officials from the Department of Finance who informed our Committee that a ballpark figure of around an extra £200 million, as well as ongoing Barnett consequential adjustments, would come into play in June monitoring. That is 30 days or less, Minister.

For the sake of argument, I have simplified this figure to around £0·25 billion, allocating funding in June monitoring. In response to questions at the Committee as to how this would be allocated, it was indicated that it would be bid for by Departments through the Executive. Some would argue that £0·25 billion is, in the overall context of a nearly £16 billion Budget, is small change. However, it would enable many of Health's challenges to be met, help bring Health's allocation more into line with the rest of our great nation and would, at least, fulfil a quarter of the commitment made by both Sinn Féin and the DUP in their manifestos.

That would require party negotiation, of which there has been none; a Programme for Government, which there is none; and adequate analysis, prioritisation, consultation and receipt of June monitoring, which of course, there has been none, especially as a Budget is again being fast-tracked through, without due diligence and full account of the likely funding envelope. Yet Sinn Féin, the DUP and Alliance would have you vote for a Budget that could, in all probability, as indicated by the Department of Finance, have an extra £0·25 billion allocated in less than 30 days. How can any self-respecting MLA support this Budget as it is?

Colm Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I will speak as Chair of the Committee for Communities initially, and then I will make a short contribution in my capacity as Sinn Féin spokesperson for communities.

As Chair of the Committee that scrutinises the largest Department in government, employing almost half of the Civil Service, I would like to be able to say that the Committee has received advance notification of, and extensive briefing in relation to, the Budget allocated to the Department for Communities. Immediately after our most-recent Committee meeting, on Thursday afternoon, Committee members received a document containing an update on the financial position. We now know that DFC was allocated £856 million of resource DEL funding, £133·4 million of net capital DEL and £29·8 million of financial transactions capital.

At the outset, I acknowledge that all members of the Committee recognise a critical issue: the North is severely underfunded against objective need. That is a pressing concern that impacts on every aspect of public services in the North of Ireland. The Committee, however, has had insufficient time to meet and thoroughly consider as a group this Budget allocation. This delay is hampering our ability to perform our scrutiny role as effectively and diligently as we would like. Regrettably, I must inform the House that our Committee has been unable to reach a formal position on the Budget for 2024-25. That is not due to any lack of agreement or commitment from Committee members but because of a deficit in receiving timely information. As of our most-recent meeting, we have only received headline figures for the capital and resource allocations, as set out in the Budget 2024-25 document. These figures are not sufficient to make meaningful comparisons against the bids submitted by the Department for Communities. Based on correspondence provided in the past couple of days in relation to the Budget allocations, there are significant gaps, and that leaves us with an incomplete picture. For instance, the £115·8 million shortfall in non-ring-fenced resource funding and the £167·3 million shortfall in capital DEL bids highlight the severe constraints and potential impacts on vital services and programmes, yet the specific implications and strategies to mitigate these shortfalls are not outlined. In fact, I can quote:

"work is ongoing to consider options to live within the Department's 2024-25 Budget allocation".

The Committee needs to receive all relevant documents and information in a timely manner, allowing it sufficient time to perform its duties comprehensively. Moreover, there should be clearer articulation of how each financial decision fits within the broader strategic framework of the Programme for Government. An updated in-person briefing for the Committee has now been confirmed for Thursday 6 June, which will hopefully provide some insight but which is too late to enable a substantive contribution to this debate, leaving the Committee unable to reach a position on the Budget.

In conclusion, although we recognise the difficult financial climate and the challenging decisions that must be made, it is imperative that every Statutory Committee be given the necessary time and information to perform its duties effectively.

I will now make some brief comments as the Sinn Féin spokesperson for communities. The Budget is vital for the Department, given the lack of time that there has been to agree a departmental response and the fact that there are several areas of significant importance that fall within the Department for Communities' portfolio. Those include primary responsibility for our community and voluntary sector; the anti-poverty strategy; language and social inclusion, right through to neighbourhood renewal; and sport, culture, arts and heritage.

As all of us across the Chamber know, the Department for Communities is also responsible for housing and for homelessness prevention. I will focus my remarks today on those areas. The number of households with homelessness status on the social housing waiting list has grown by 122% over the past decade to over 27,500 households in September 2023. Additionally, the number of people living in temporary accommodation more than doubled between 2018 and 2023. Housing Executive spending on temporary accommodation rose by £17·3 million over that period. That is particularly concerning, as spiralling costs in that area consume any available budget that is meant to support homelessness prevention work.

New Decade, New Approach identified housing stress as an area that required prioritisation, so it would be remiss of me not to highlight a few areas of particular concern. Although a below-inflation increase to the baseline occurred in 2022-23 for Supporting People, it has not been guaranteed on a sustainable basis. If that funding is not achieved, the programme will undoubtedly see service reduction and contracts having to be returned.

I commend the Minister of Finance for undertaking what I understand was a very difficult task in particularly challenging financial circumstances. Across the Chamber, we recognise that the financial package that accompanied the restoration of the Executive was always going to fall far short of what was required, given the years of continued underfunding of this institution. On that basis —.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

Will the Member give way?

Colm Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

No, I will not give way today, thanks, Daniel.

On that basis, I also acknowledge the work that the Minister of Finance did to secure the commitments made to date as part of the interim fiscal framework.

Members, we need to look to have the further devolution of fiscal powers to allow for more long-term strategic planning and proper investment in people's lives and well-being and across our public services in the North.

Deborah Erskine (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I welcome the opportunity to speak — if I am able to — as Chairperson of the Committee for Infrastructure in today's debate. The Committee has undertaken significant engagement with the Department for Infrastructure to gain a broad overview of its role and functions and to get a sense of its financial position. Departmental officials provided an introductory high-level financial briefing on 20 March, at which they outlined the Department's capital and resource requirements for this financial year. The Committee heard that the Department's forecast resource requirement was £676·6 million, which comprised the rolled-forward baseline of £520·1 million and additional bids of £156·5 million. On the capital side, the Department forecast that £1·4 billion would be required, but, given the capital funding available to the Executive, the bids submitted totalled £1·12 billion.

A high proportion of the resource and capital funding that the Department receives is allocated to Northern Ireland Water (NIW) and Translink. Both organisations were therefore invited to present oral evidence in order to allow the Committee to get a sense of the budgetary pressures that they are facing. The Committee gained a useful if somewhat worrying insight into the historical underfunding of Northern Ireland Water and the potential impact that that underinvestment is having on our economy to this day. From oral evidence taken on 21 February, the Committee learned that the water network lacks capacity in certain areas to facilitate new connections, meaning that new homes and businesses cannot be accommodated. Not only does that impact on our construction sector but it constrains businesses seeking to invest in Northern Ireland and is a barrier to those who are in desperate need of housing. Northern Ireland Water has highlighted that some 19,000 homes and 55 commercial developments are very unlikely to be built or progressed. Reduced investment over the next three years will exhaust capacity in the system, and it anticipates that, by 2030, large parts of Northern Ireland will be unable to meet the demand for connection to the network for homes, public buildings and businesses.

The Committee also heard from the Utility Regulator about its price control determination for NI Water for 2021-2027, or PC21, which looks at the capital investment required to meet need. It advised that we will find ourselves in a difficult situation with the lack of funding from DFI to achieve the PC21 goals. The Committee accepts that all Departments are operating under severe budgetary pressures. However, it is clear that, when setting policy, the Department needs to consider whether the funding it allocates to Northern Ireland Water is sufficient to deliver the intended policy outcomes.

A Member

Will the Member give way?

Deborah Erskine (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Sorry, I have a lot to get through.

Turning to Translink and its funding requirements, the Committee recognises the vital role that our public transport services play in helping users go about their daily life, with some 80 million passenger journeys each year. The Committee is looking forward to tomorrow's combined external meeting and site visit to the new Grand Central station transport hub, which represents a large investment and is expected to be able to accommodate more than 20 million passenger journeys each year. Such investment is absolutely necessary to ensure that Translink can modernise its 14,000-strong bus fleet and play its part in reducing emissions from harmful greenhouse gases, if we are to achieve the commitments under the Climate Change Act. That investment will allow Translink to meet the demand for services, but it should be across Northern Ireland and take account of need to ensure the provision of accessible and timely services.

In addition, we need to offer a reliable and viable incentive for road users to switch to public transport for accessibility to greener forms of transport, which could also help grow our economy. Perhaps, unsurprisingly, I want to mention the recurring issue of the state of our road network, to which, I am sure, every Member can attest. The deterioration of our roads is a consequence of having an insufficient budget to maintain them at a normal level. The Committee recognises that the Department requires some £60 million per annum to maintain the road network. Over recent years, it has not received sufficient funding, and, as a result, only the highest-priority repairs can be undertaken, and temporary fixes have become more common.

Constrained funding has also led to a reduced winter service, leading to some roads not being gritted, particularly during cold weather. These factors all contribute to road safety on our network and are of particular concern to the Committee and all Members of the House. We have all heard about the tragic and unnecessary loss of life on our roads that has left too many families, friends and communities devastated at the loss of a loved one. Over the coming weeks, the Committee will be considering the road safety strategy and how it aims to deliver improved outcomes. It will seek to ensure that necessary resources are allocated to deliver those outcomes.

Having reviewed the capital and resource allocation of the draft Budget, I note that the Department, subject to Budget approval today, will receive £820·1 million capital and £559·5 million resource, which falls significantly short of the bid that was submitted. It is extremely disappointing that the Department advised that officials would not be in a position to give evidence to the Committee on how it intends to prioritise and allocate its funding until tomorrow. While a paper, which sets out indicative high-level resource and capital allocations, has now been received, it would have been beneficial had members had the opportunity to discuss those allocations with officials before today's debate and vote. The Committee has written to the Minister to express its disappointment and to seek assurance that engagement for future Budget cycles will be timely, so as not to diminish our advisory and scrutiny roles.

I will now speak very briefly in my capacity as an MLA. We have heard a lot today about parties not voting on the Budget. That is mainly down to Health and its not receiving the full Budget allocation that it bid for. Every Department is in a similar situation.

I remind the Health Minister that, if we do not fund roads and do not fund our water system, that will mean problems in our health service: more people in hospital due to poor drinking water and more traffic incidents, which cause problems —

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Will the Member bring her remarks to a close?

Deborah Erskine (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

— in our already stretched and pressured emergency departments (EDs). This is not about just one Department; it is cross-departmental.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

The Member's time is up.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

I will make some initial remarks on behalf of the Committee for The Executive Office. We are again in the position of having to debate matters on which there is insufficient time to receive the information that we need. That has a significant impact on effective scrutiny. Nevertheless, we need to move forward with a Budget to have clarity about spending plans and to continue to make the case to the Treasury that our current funding package does not meet objective need.

The Executive Office is to receive £183 million resource DEL and £17 million capital DEL, of which £7 million is financial transactions capital. The Department's conventional capital bid was for £14 million, so the allocation of £10 million means that a further £4 million would need to be found elsewhere. The Department received £181 million resource DEL in the previous Budget period, so there is a modest uplift of £2 million in this Budget. If last year's pattern is to be repeated, 58% of the total amount will be earmarked for things such as support for victims and survivors of the conflict, historical institutional abuse and truth recovery. That leaves relatively little wriggle room for the Department to make savings. One of the challenges that we face, however, is that we do not know to what extent last year's pattern will be repeated.

The Department made bids for funding for the ending violence against women and girls strategy, Good Relations and support for public-sector reform. On 15 May, the Committee heard evidence from the Department on how it plans to tackle violence against women and girls. We also heard from stakeholders and women's centres about how we should be tackling violence against women and girls. We will need an adequate budget to do so, and that should, of course, be a priority for the Department. The Department made a bid for £500,000 to fund the strategy, added to £300,000 for baseline funds. Considering the scale of the challenge of achieving the aims of the strategy, the Committee will thus look closely at the adequacy of £800,000 to make an impact.

The Committee also heard from survivors of institutional child abuse. We heard last week that redress payments of £87 million have been paid out to date. In the past financial year, however, only £26 million was awarded by the redress board, while almost £1 million was paid in legal fees, £1·6 million in panel fees and almost £2 million in administration costs. We await updated expenditure figures from the Department, but the Committee is determined to ensure that public money, as scarce as it is, is well spent. There is clearly learning here.

It is a matter of some frustration that, due to a lack of information, the Committee cannot provide a more comprehensive contribution to the debate. However, the Committee looks forward to receiving a financial briefing from the Department on 12 June, when we will be in a better position to ascertain the facts of the Department's planned expenditure.

I will now make some comments as an Alliance MLA, albeit —.

Paul Frew (DUP, North Antrim)

Will the Member give way?

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

Go ahead.

Paul Frew (DUP, North Antrim)

Does the Member, in her Committee position, think that the date of 12 June is adequate for a briefing on a Budget that, really, she needed to know about now?

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

I totally agree — this is the first opportunity that the Department has taken to offer us that briefing — so thank you for that.

I will make my remarks on the Executive Office budget. In her foreword to the Budget document, the Finance Minister says that demands on the Budget amount to £1·50 for every £1 that she has available to spend. It should be emphasised that my colleagues and I fully support her case for an improved package from the UK Treasury.

I would like to correct the record. I am sure that the DUP Member for South Down did not mean to mislead the House when she said that parties other than her own championed and cheered on the financial package. My party leader, Naomi Long, said on 11 December:

"It was important to see key issues Alliance has consistently raised form part of the paper we were all provided with today ... That includes the need for a fiscal floor for funding Northern Ireland, to ensure we are funded in line with need, a separate stabilisation fund to undo some of the harm created by cuts and to tackle backlogs, and also a transformation fund to allow us to improve public services. Those three elements form part of the offer today, but we now need to look at the amount allocated to each and where from, as the current proposal just won't create financial sustainability."

That is on the website, if anybody would like to read it.

Nevertheless, it should also be emphasised that we will always have more demands on the public purse than it can meet out of revenue raised. As one Chancellor put it, the queue of people telling you what they can spend money on will always be longer than the queue telling you what you should cut spending on. That brings us to the need to cut waste and to prioritise. The problem is that it is difficult to prioritise if we do not have a Programme for Government. We should also better define what "inescapable pressures" are. Today, we are essentially budgeting in the dark and setting spending limits assuming that we will want to do roughly the same as we did last year. That is not the route to efficient budgeting, nor is it the route to delivering real change and reform for the public.

The Executive Office's record after 100 days of restored devolution was not good. I will not repeat the details, but we have seen a failure to appoint an array of commissioners and even the Executive Office's own permanent secretary. We have not seen any meaningful movement on key issues such as a memorial to victims and survivors of the historical institutional abuse of children. We have not seen any movement at all on issues such as the replacement of the international relations strategy, the current version of which dates from pre Brexit. The Executive Office also oversees a Strategic Investment Board that is under review but that, in the meantime, continues to support an educational campus that the independent review of education warned clearly against building and for which the budget is not yet secure. The Executive Office did that while supposedly supporting a stadium that the Minister refuses to put out to tender. It also supports, at considerable cost, a Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation that cannot demonstrate any meaningful outcomes over the past few years. That sort of thing matters. For example, without an up-to-date international relations strategy, how are we to define the purpose of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Beijing? What are we expecting it to deliver, and how do we assess its performance?

Speaking of budgeting in the dark, the truth is that we —.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Will the Member bring her remarks to a close?

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

OK. I will leave it there. I had plenty more to say. Thank you.

Declan McAleer (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

I speak in my capacity as Sinn Féin spokesperson for agriculture, and I welcome the opportunity to make some points on the Budget.

It is welcome that the Finance Minister has secured a Budget that was agreed by the majority of the Executive parties. That will bring some clarity and stability to our public services and allow Departments to plan ahead. The agreed Executive Budget is a very welcome step given that, over the past two years, the Budget was decided by the Tory Government without our consent.

DAERA has responsibility for food, farming, climate change, environmental matters, fisheries, forestry, sustainability policy and rural affairs. The overarching aim of the Department is to put sustainability at the heart of a living, working, active landscape that is valued by everyone. We strongly believe that it is important that DAERA commits to working in partnership with rural people to create a sustainable rural community where people want to live, work and be active.

Whilst I welcome the total funding allocation for DAERA, I want to highlight the detrimental effects of Brexit on agriculture and rural communities. The Tory Government created and delivered austerity and Brexit. The EU common agricultural policy — we are not suggesting that it was absolutely perfect — at least gave certainty to farming communities and provided a seven-year multi-annual budget so that they could plan ahead. However, Brexit has delivered a huge cut to rural funding, not only to agriculture but to the rural development programme. We had a ring-fenced budget for rural funding that ended in December 2023.

Rural communities must not be ignored. They face many challenges, and we are seeing the consequences of the Tory Government's overlooking rural votes, with their seats up for grabs at the next general election, if the polls are to be believed. Our rural communities need investment and support from government policy that is cross-departmental. The success of rural communities is central to our future. Rural dwellers should have equality of opportunity. All Departments have a responsibility for issues that affect rural areas, and we all must be mindful of our statutory obligations under the Rural Needs Act, which was passed in this House.

While most of the budget is ring-fenced for farm support payments — I welcome the fact, which I heard from DAERA officials, that the farm budget is £332·5 million for 2024-25 — the key thing is that there is no clarity beyond 2024-25. Without certainty beyond that date, how are farmers supposed to run their businesses and make plans? Farmers highlighted the problem that the prices that they get for their produce do not cover the cost of production. Budget certainty is critical. As one farmer said to us at the Balmoral show a couple of weeks ago, food does not come from the local supermarket; it just sells it. Food comes from farms, and that is a really important point to make.

Sinn Féin wants farm support and a rural development programme to continue as part of a multi-year, ring-fenced Budget. It is always worth remembering that when we were in the EU, the single farm payment and most of the rural development programme came as a separate ring-fenced budget from our block grant. When we exited the EU, we were promised by the UK Government that that lost funding would be replaced. We have not seen the colour of that money, and that has had a serious impact on our rural communities.

Another issue of major financial concern is the TB programme. Officials highlighted to the Committee its increasing cost: TB compensation was £38 million in 2022-23, which was up from £19·5 million in 2019-2020, and the overall programme costs in the region of £50 million. If we can get to grips with that disease, it should free up money for other aspects of farming and rural communities.

As we look to the future, we need the required fiscal levers and multi-year Budgets to enable long-term planning and proper investment in agriculture and rural communities. I support the motion and commend the Minister for her achievements on the interim fiscal framework and achieving her first Budget.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

The Business Committee has arranged to meet at 1.00 pm today. I propose, therefore, by leave of the Assembly, to suspend the sitting until 2.00 pm. The debate will continue after Question Time, when the first Member to speak will be Phillip Brett, the Chair of the Committee for the Economy. The sitting is, by leave, suspended.

The debate stood suspended. The sitting was suspended at 12.57 pm.

On resuming (Madam Principal Deputy Speaker [Ms Ní Chuilín] in the Chair) —

Oral Answers to Questions — The Executive Office

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

It is time for questions to the Executive Office. We will start with listed questions. Question 1 has been withdrawn.

Pádraig Delargy (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

2. Mr Delargy asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline what actions they are taking to promote Ebrington Square as an event venue. (AQO 482/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Ebrington has been transformed. Future developments, such as a new museum for Derry, will strengthen its economic, social, tourism and cultural impact and value to the city and the north-west. That potential will be enhanced by an inclusive and ambitious approach to creative and cultural events at Ebrington. Next month, the YES Festival will feature the creative work of women from 18 European cities and renowned female artists. Support from the Executive Office is enabling a major outdoor art installation and community activities on the square that will showcase the diverse creative opportunities for the site.

Good partnership working with Derry City and Strabane District Council has supported an events programme for 2024, including linkages to citywide events and festivals. We really want to help promoters and local groups to be ambitious, showcase local talent and attract major artists and visitors to the region. Soon, we will be calling for expressions of interest for large-scale events up to September 2026.

That level of ambition is enhanced by a focus on inclusion. Ebrington is used year round by local people and groups for community, sporting and charity events, large and small. We really want to support that also. Building on views expressed by political, community and business representatives during our recent engagement work, a series of public events will now take place in June to explore better ways of working together that will realise the full potential of the Ebrington site.

Pádraig Delargy (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

I thank the First Minister for her answer and her ongoing commitment to the site. As she is well aware, the people of Derry want concerts back in Ebrington Square. What can the council and the Executive Office do to work together to ensure that not only does that happen but the number of events increases to put our city back on the map as a world-class music venue?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I thank the Member for his continued interest in and promotion of the site. As I mentioned, many types of community, arts-based, sporting and charity events occur there. It is really important that Ebrington continues to be well used to maximise its social and economic contribution to the city and the north-west, because we know that that comes with enormous benefits. Maximising the site's potential is best done in partnership with the council and local businesses. Where opportunities present themselves or even, indeed, where requests are made, we will, of course, consider them, especially where there is a significant benefit to the city.

David Honeyford (Alliance, Lagan Valley)

What specific work has been undertaken towards a similar goal for the Maze/Long Kesh site?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The Member will know that we had a debate in the Assembly when we talked about the enormous potential of the site. I am absolutely determined to ensure that we grab that with both hands and open up that site for all the tremendous economic, social and cultural benefits that can come from it. I look forward to working with the Member and other Members as we regenerate that site for the benefit of all the people whom we collectively serve.

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

I certainly welcome the progress on Ebrington Square and the commitment to attracting high-quality acts there. On the day-to-day management of Ebrington Square, will the Minister give a commitment to ensure that it is clean and safe? There has been a huge increase in vehicular traffic using the square, which had, until recently, been pedestrianised.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Is there a question there, Mark?

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

I have asked the Minister for a commitment.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

OK.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I thank the Member. I know that he is passionate about the site. We want to work with the council and our partners to ensure that we maximise the site's potential. The deputy First Minister and I will be up there in June, and we will talk to partners about how we can progress some of the areas to which I have referred. If we are going to open up the site more, bring in more events and do so in partnership, it is important, obviously, that the site is inviting and is somewhere where people want to go and spend time, because the benefits that that will bring to the wider north-west, particularly the impact on local communities, are clear for us all to see.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

3. Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in light of their statutory obligation to represent the interests of victims, whether they intend to take action to address the legacy of the past, including condemning murders carried out by the Provisional IRA and other terrorist organisations. (AQO 483/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Our Department has been representing the interests of victims and survivors for many years. We remain committed to ensuring that their needs continue to be met. A consultation has recently closed on the new draft strategy for victims and survivors, and we will shortly be considering the findings. A key part of the strategy will be providing support for victims and survivors and their families as they move forward from experiences of the past. The draft strategy recognises the importance of truth and justice and the need to work together towards greater societal recognition of the hurt, loss and trauma of our past.

We will continue to provide support for victims and survivors in dealing with the legacy of the past and will take a flexible approach to dealing with changing needs and circumstances. That will include providing support through the advocacy support network, which is delivered by community organisations funded by the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) and is expected to be part of the forthcoming PEACE PLUS programme. As Ministers, we are wholeheartedly committed to continuing the work of reconciliation between all of our people.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Now, First Minister, try my question, which you avoided. You oversee victims policy, but you still side with the victim-makers by refusing to condemn their murders and their other actions. How can you do that and expect to have any respect from those who were made victims? Is that situation not an offensive illustration —

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Have you a question there, Mr Allister?

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

— of the obscenity of the position that you hold?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

First Minister, answer that in whatever way you feel fit.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

This issue is far too serious for party politicking.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Answer the question.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Who are you talking to?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

It is most important that we do all that we can to support victims and survivors. In the Executive Office, we are absolutely committed to doing everything that we can through our two main programmes, particularly around the victim support programme and the individual needs programme. The best thing that we can do for our society, because we all have a leadership role to play in healing the wounds of the past and moving us into a better future for everybody, is to help people to move forward. That is the responsible thing to do, and that is what I am committed to doing.

Emma Sheerin (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Minister, thank you again for your renewed commitment to ensuring the provision of services for victims and survivors. May I ask for an update on the victims' payments scheme, please?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

As of the week commencing 13 May, over £40 million had been paid to victims since the scheme opened for applications on 31 August 2021. The Victims' Payments Board has made determinations on 1,356 cases, with 878 of those recommended for a payment. That figure includes determinations at first hearing and appeals. Four hundred and seventy-eight applications have been determined as ineligible for payment.

We are aware that there are some concerns about the time that it can take to process an application, and that is simply because each application is unique, with its own complexities. The Victims' Payments Board must consider each application on its own merits in order to provide the best outcome for applicants. The historical nature of much of the evidence, when record-keeping may not have been to the same standard as that of today, means that gathering evidence can be challenging. The Victims' Payments Board has processes in place with a range of partners to assist in retrieving evidence on behalf of applicants. In addition, I urge those who feel that they may meet the criteria to make their application now.

Connie Egan (Alliance, North Down)

First Minister, can you provide us with an update on the appointment of a Commissioner for Victims and Survivors?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes, I can. Ensuring that victims and survivors have a strong, independent voice is really important to us all collectively, particularly for the Executive. The appointment of a new Commissioner for Victims and Survivors is essential to inform the development of policies and to help to ensure that the longer-term needs of victims and survivors are addressed. The appointment plan for the recruitment competition to appoint the new commissioner is being reviewed, and the competition will launch very soon. The appointment process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, and therefore it is estimated that the process may take approximately six months to complete.

Mike Nesbitt (UUP, Strangford)

In his capacity as head of Operation Kenova, Jon Boutcher was the last person to recommend an annual day of reflection. What are the First Minister's thoughts?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

We do indeed have an annual day of reflection, and that is something that we should give consideration to collectively. The success of something like that is something that we all need to be part of. That would be the healing value of it. We will have to explore that a bit more. Certainly, it is important that we find the space to reflect and to do so together.

Tom Buchanan (DUP, West Tyrone)

4. Mr T Buchanan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of lessons they have learned for their Department arising from the evidence presented to the Northern Ireland module of the COVID-19 inquiry. (AQO 484/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

We welcome the inquiry and its presence in Belfast from 30 April to 16 May 2024. We fully support the inquiry in its mission to learn lessons for the future, and we have engaged and continue to engage with it on that basis. It is right and proper that COVID-19 decision-making and other matters are being considered, and we will actively work through the lessons to be learned. That will be a combination of our own analysis and consideration of the recommendations from the inquiry, when they become available.

Tom Buchanan (DUP, West Tyrone)

On the subject of learning lessons, has the First Minister's Department any contingency plans in place or is it considering putting any in place to deal with a similar pandemic, should one arise?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I thank the Member for his question. Obviously, the purpose of the inquiry is to learn lessons, and a number were learned as we travelled through the COVID pandemic. We have been able to update our civil contingencies framework. Again, that came out of lessons learned throughout the pandemic.

It is clear to us that we have to embrace the recommendations of the inquiry when it completes, because, unfortunately, it is inevitable that there will be another pandemic at some juncture. Given that COVID was an unprecedented global pandemic, there is no doubt that there are many lessons to be learned. We will be able to put them into effect. The inquiry has finished the module for here, and it will sit again to hear more evidence. We will then have the full report, and the Executive as a whole will have to take the recommendations on board.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

First Minister, after the renewable heat incentive (RHI) inquiry report was published in March 2020, just as the COVID pandemic was spreading, you said:

"We need open Government where decisions are properly scrutinised day and daily and with no hiding place for any risk of malpractice".

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Is there a question, Matthew?

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

The —

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Good stuff.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

— COVID inquiry was not able to get hold of key evidence because it was deleted from digital devices.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Question?

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

First Minister, will you confirm whether WhatsApp is still being used to do government business? If so, are you sharing a record in real time with civil servants so that they can keep that record and it cannot be deleted?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

At the time, it was our understanding that the Department operated a robust records system detailing all the required information about decisions made and engagements and meetings about departmental business. We set that out fully to the inquiry. It was also understood that all that information was recorded and retained by departmental officials. As I said, however, there is no doubt that there are lessons to be learned. There is no doubt that the head of the Civil Service has set out to ensure that everybody fully understands best practice for the operation of Executive business and that everything is committed to the official record.

Liz Kimmins (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

Does the First Minister agree that the COVID inquiry is an important platform for the bereaved families, who lost loved ones during the pandemic, and that lessons must now be learned across all Departments?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes, and that is at the heart of the inquiry. I absolutely agree with the Member. Our thoughts will always be with the loved ones during this most challenging, horrific and difficult period, because they lost so much. As I said, we fully supported the inquiry in its mission to learn lessons for the future, and we will continue to engage with it on that basis. It is absolutely right and proper that the COVID-19 decision-making and the other matters that are being considered be taken on board, and we will actively learn lessons that will complement what we have learnt from our analysis. Obviously, the inquiry will also have recommendations to make.

Peter McReynolds (Alliance, Belfast East)

Given the evidence that the absence of the institutions caused considerable harm to preparations for the pandemic, what steps will be taken in the coming weeks towards meaningful institutional reform?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

That is not a shared position in the Executive Office. The Member will know that, personally and from a party point of view, we can always strive to look at how we can do things better and ensure that we have stability in the institutions. The public deserve that stability, and I want to provide leadership and stewardship in my role as First Minister. Through the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, we have an opportunity to see how we can improve how we work together here. Let us do so with the good intention of making sure that the Assembly is a permanent fixture. Particularly in these times, as we enter an election contest, with the Westminster election having been called, I call for steadiness in the Assembly and the Executive. I want us to continue to do our job here. We have made good strides forward in the early days, and I want us to continue to make that progress.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Minister, you are probably aware of the statutory ministerial code, which talks particularly about accountability and openness. Will you and the deputy First Minister institute an independent review of the retention of data, which was raised by the RHI inquiry and now by the COVID inquiry?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

As I said, we have participated fully as an Executive with the inquiry. We have provided all the information. The Member may not know that an independent investigation was carried out by the head of the Civil Service, which looked at data retention, and that was reported to the inquiry. We are also still in the midst of the inquiry, so it has not reported yet. It has finished its three weeks here, but it will be looking also at the issue of care homes and at other elements of the pandemic response. We will then have a fulsome report, but, in the meantime, I am content that the head of the Civil Service conducted that independent review.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

5. Ms Bradshaw asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the publication of a new international relations strategy. (AQO 485/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Since the publication of the international relations strategy in 2014, there have been major shifts in the geopolitical and the macroeconomic landscapes against a backdrop of issues arising from the global pandemic. As a result, local and international priorities have evolved. In parallel, international interest in all that we have to offer continues to grow. We have a reputation as one of the world's best business set-up partners and an investment destination of choice. To reflect the continuing focus on well-being outcomes and further changes in the international landscape, our officials have undertaken extensive preparatory work and engagement, and officials are now in the process of preparing a draft international relations strategy, which will form the basis for further engagement, and also a public consultation.

We look forward to bringing a new international relations strategy for Executive consideration, and it is intended that this new Executive strategy will build upon our strengths, support the delivery of the Programme for Government, acknowledge emerging global challenges and opportunities and set out the optimal countries and regions for engagement to maximise delivery of our shared priorities. The strategy will be important in setting out our longer-term approach to international engagement, but we have already been working hard in our first few months to build relationships with strategic international partners who have a keen interest in our peace and prosperity.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

Thank you, First Minister, for your answer. As you said, the world has moved on. Will the new strategy include a set of principles and human rights standards through which engagement with every nation in the world will be measured?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

We do not have the draft yet — it is being developed — but there will certainly be an opportunity for the Committee for the Executive Office to scrutinise the work. On principle, from a personal perspective, engaging with countries on human rights compliance is very important. As we look towards a changing global picture — global events, conflict, a post-Brexit world and a post-pandemic world — we can see that a lot of things have changed. That has to be factored into the work that we are doing on our international strategy, but I am hopeful that we will be able to have Executive consideration of a fulsome strategy in the autumn.

Philip McGuigan (Sinn Féin, North Antrim)

I note in the First Minister's comments the fact that the international interest in what we have to offer here continues to grow and that we are an investment destination of choice. Therefore, will the First Minister outline what international partners Ministers have met since taking office?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Since taking office, the deputy First Minister and I, along with the junior Ministers, have seen at first hand the level of interest and enthusiasm shown by our international partners, even from very early days. During that time, we and our officials have supported visits from more than 20 different countries. We have had the pleasure of welcoming the Prime Minister of Kosovo and ambassadors from the US, the EU, Germany, China and Japan, to name just a few.

Alongside that, the Member will be aware that the deputy First Minister and I led a delegation to the US during St Patrick's Day, again taking every opportunity when meeting business leaders to deliver a clear message that we are an attractive investment opportunity for global companies because of our talented workforce, our dual market access and our innovative homegrown companies. At the same time, our junior Ministers travelled to Brussels to engage in a round of meetings and events reinforcing, once again, our commitment to key relationships and networks across Europe.

In looking to the future, we are very much looking to continue to work alongside the Minister for the Economy to highlight the message that we are very much a place that is open for business.

Brian Kingston (DUP, Belfast North)

Following on from that question, as the First Minister will be aware, the Northern Ireland Executive currently have a presence in Belgium, in China and in the United States of America. Will the First Minister indicate what other places are being considered as key markets for economic opportunity or for strengthening our diplomatic relations?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I thank the Member for that. As I said, we are going to take every opportunity to promote this place overseas. We have the three bureaux, which are really important in being there to support our access to those key markets and facilitating our engagement with the EU, its institutions and wider Europe.

Equally, alongside those key locations of Brussels, Washington and Beijing, there are interests elsewhere. We are going to work on our international relations strategy with Invest NI, which has 30 international offices. It is important that the work that Invest NI does and that we do in the Executive Office on an international strategy work alongside each other and become wider networks through which we can deliver our shared priorities. The actual places of interest will become more evident as we develop the strategy.

Justin McNulty (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Newry and Armagh)

Could there be a better way to promote international relations than hosting a global soccer tournament at GAA HQ in west Belfast at a newly developed Casement Park? Will the First Minister and deputy First Minister be putting their shoulders to the wheel to ensure that Casement gets built in time for that tournament?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I absolutely concur regarding the enormous economic and sporting benefit and legacy that the Euros would leave. It is an opportunity not to be missed. I noted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's comments last week about a substantial contribution. We look forward to a figure being put on that statement. We must grasp with both hands the enormous benefit that we would have from the Euros. In turn, Casement Park will be built.

Peter McReynolds (Alliance, Belfast East)

6. Mr McReynolds asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline when the draft strategic framework to end violence against women and girls will be approved. (AQO 486/22-27)

Maolíosa McHugh (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

10. Mr McHugh asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for a progress update on the strategic framework to ending violence against women and girls. (AQO 490/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

With your permission, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, junior Minister Reilly will answer.

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

With your permission, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I will answer questions 6 and 10 together.

We reiterate that ending violence against women and girls remains one of our key priorities. We are committed to bringing forward the strategic framework and action plan for consideration by the Executive Committee as soon as possible. The recent murder of Kathryn Parton only highlights the urgency required. We extend our sympathy to Kathryn's family and friends at this extremely difficult time.

We are giving active consideration to final options. It is anticipated that the updated framework and action plan will be brought to the Executive very shortly.

Peter McReynolds (Alliance, Belfast East)

I thank the junior Minister for her response, and I congratulate her on her appointment to her new role since I last saw her.

What resources will be available during this and future financial years to ensure the implementation of the strategic framework?

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I thank the Member for his words of congratulations.

As the Member knows, we are operating in a very difficult budgetary situation. The impact of that is being felt across Departments and within communities, and we are hearing about that in today's debate on the Budget.

Work is ongoing to develop a costed action plan to support the delivery of the strategic framework, taking into account the wider financial implication across all Departments. I know that the Member — as do we — wants to make sure that the framework has the impact and delivers on the step change that is needed in society to end violence against women and girls. We will continue to engage with our Executive colleagues and partners in this crucial area and are committed to bringing the framework forward as soon as possible.

Maolíosa McHugh (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire sóisearach as a freagraí go dtí seo.

[Translation: I thank the junior Minister for her answers so far.]

How will the framework tackle the increasing abuse experienced by women and girls?

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chomhalta as ucht a cheiste.

[Translation: I thank the Member for his question.]

The horrendous murder of Kathryn Parton in recent weeks was yet another stark reminder that, every day, there are many women who are not safe in their home and suffer violence and abuse, often in silence. Yet again, we have to take a stand here today and say that enough is enough. Together, we need to ensure that there is zero tolerance of any violence or abuse towards women and girls.

My heart goes out to all of Kathryn's family and friends, but especially to her father, who experienced something that no parent ever should and which is every parent's worst nightmare. Words, however, are not enough, and the Executive are committed to taking action.

Cara Hunter (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Two weeks ago, the other junior Minister said that the Department was engaging with the Health Minister to ensure that they had a conversation about the loss of Women's Aid funding. Will you update the House on the engagement that you have had and whether you will ensure that that funding is provided?

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I thank the Member for her question regarding the cuts to the Women's Aid Federation's budget. We recognise the need to ensure that services for victims deliver a consistent, trauma-informed response across a diverse range of needs. That includes access to funding and resources. We absolutely acknowledge the good work being carried out by our delivery partners, which include Women's Aid, in very challenging circumstances. As I said, we will continue to engage with our Executive colleagues about funding for the Women's Aid Federation and other delivery partners.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

7. Mr McCrossan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the legislative programme of the Executive for the remainder of the 2022-27 mandate. (AQO 487/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The Member will now be aware of the written ministerial statement on the Executive's legislative programme that we made to the Assembly on 23 May. It sets out the Bills that, subject to Executive agreement on the substance of each proposal, Ministers intend to introduce to the Assembly before the end of the calendar year. Ministers also have a large number of other legislative proposals in development, and we intend to make a further statement later this year about additional Bills that will be introduced before the end of the 2024-25 session.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

First Minister, the Assembly and the Executive have now been in place for over 100 days. The public rightly expect and deserve delivery from the Executive after continual failure. When will the Assembly get sight of the Programme for Government and have an opportunity to debate the priorities that will be laid before it?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Perhaps the Member missed this information: the Assembly will have the opportunity to debate and scrutinise the legislative programme on 11 June. We scheduled a debate in the aftermath of laying the written ministerial statement last week. We recognise that, importantly, the Executive's legislative priorities will set the framework for the legislative programme of work in the House. It is really important that we have that debate the week after next. For that reason, we have worked collaboratively with ministerial colleagues. We have also taken the necessary time to produce a programme that reflects departmental policy priorities and is deliverable within the committed time frame.

Linda Dillon (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Minister, having met many victims and survivors of abuse in mother-and-baby institutions, you will be well aware that they are very nervous and anxious to know when the Bill on mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses might come forward. Will you outline the timeline for the publication of the Bill?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I thank the Member for asking that question, and I take the opportunity to acknowledge the fact that she and Members across the House have worked together really constructively in this sensitive area. Engagement with the groups will be core to the process. Along with the deputy First Minister, I will undertake a round of engagements with the groups and wider stakeholders before we make any public announcements. I can update the House that we are progressing legislation to establish a statutory public inquiry and a financial redress scheme for those who have been impacted on by their experience in mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses.

The Member will appreciate that a number of complex and sensitive issues have to be considered ahead of the next key stage, which is to bring a proposal to Executive colleagues, with the intention of launching a public policy consultation ahead of the summer recess. Following analysis of responses to the consultation, a draft Bill can be finalised. It will be brought to the Executive for their agreement and then introduced to the Assembly in 2024. The Member will appreciate that it is important and sensitive legislation. The deputy First Minister and I are really committed to ensuring that we work at pace to make more progress and to have the Bill debated in the Assembly.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I call Kate Nicholl for a very brief supplementary question.

Kate Nicholl (Alliance, Belfast South)

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.

First Minister, will that legislation include the ability to enforce redress payments from religious orders that are still refusing to make such payments?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

We are looking at the legislation to see how we can respond to the victims and survivors of the mother-and-baby homes. Financing is, however, dealt with separately, insofar as we have the framework and are trying to work with the institutions. I have said previously in the House that if payments are not forthcoming, we will have to look at other ways in which to achieve the proper financial redress, because that is also part of the healing process for victims. We have a very good framework in place. We will continue to work our way through that, but we will not be found wanting if we need to bring forward legislation to achieve what is required.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Sorry, Patsy. That ends the period for listed questions. We will now move to 15 minutes of topical questions.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

T1. Mr O'Toole asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, after welcoming Rockwell College, Tipperary to proceedings, to state when we will see a full Programme for Government, given that, when the First Minister referenced the legislative programme, which he welcomes and acknowledges, in answer to his colleague’s question, a Programme for Government, which is much broader than a legislative programme in which some of the measures are simply to keep parity with GB, was not mentioned. (AQT 321/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Your colleague asked a question about the legislative programme specifically, so I answered that question. It is important that we get the trilogy, if you want to call it that, right: the legislative programme, the Budget, which is being debated today, and the Programme for Government. Unfortunately, the election was called towards the end of last week, and the early advice that the deputy First Minister and I have received is that it will be very difficult to publish a Programme for Government in the midst of an election campaign.

We are exploring that situation further because we are determined to get the Programme for Government out the door to complement the work of the Budget and the legislative programme. We will keep the House updated on the legal advice that we receive. When the purdah period kicks in, it makes it very difficult for us to carry out certain areas of work. The Programme for Government appears to fall under that category, but we will keep people posted.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

As a former civil servant, I acknowledge that there is a pre-election period. Obviously, I do not want the First Minister or deputy First Minister to stray into political territory with official resources, so that is fine. When the Programme for Government is published, however, will it include provision for an Irish language commissioner and associated commissioners? Will we have that clarity when the Programme for Government is published?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I am delighted to say that there has been progress on the application and recruitment process and that we hope to be able to advance that in the coming days and weeks.

We are all desperate to get the Programme for Government out the door. We are all desperate to get that in place. We will seek further advice on what is possible in that space, but, unfortunately, the election being called puts its delivery before 4 July somewhat in jeopardy.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

T2. Mr Allister asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the First Minister can state why she wiped her COVID WhatsApp messages and what she was hiding, given that it is clear from the transcript taken from Baroness Foster’s phone that she wiped much more than administrative messages. (AQT 322/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

At the time, my understanding was that the Department operated a robust records system detailing all the required information about decisions made and engagements and meetings about departmental business. Considerable information was handed over to the inquiry, and the inquiry will now do its work. The official record is retained in the Department. Let us await the outcome of the COVID inquiry. I am sure that we will all commit to learning from that about best practice.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

In your witness statement to the tribunal, you said that you had wiped only administrative messages. Was that truthful? Is the situation —.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Sorry

[Inaudible]

question.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Is it the case that you were really hiding your WhatsApp messages about the Storey funeral?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

First Minister, respond to that in whatever way you see fit.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I do not expect any more from the Member than messing and nonsense. When it comes to the COVID inquiry, it is important that we are all committed to learning lessons. As I said in the inquiry, I believe that all five parties in the Executive worked very hard throughout an unprecedented global crisis to try to get people through to the other side. Of course, we will all learn lessons and take those lessons on board as a result of the inquiry. That is its purpose. That is why we all participated in it and gave so much time to trying to learn those lessons. Some of those lessons have already been brought into play. Other lessons will come from the inquiry over time.

Maolíosa McHugh (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

T3. Mr McHugh asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the First Minister agrees that holding Euro 2028 in Belfast will create an unprecedented economic opportunity that will significantly benefit all of the community. (AQT 323/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes, I absolutely do. Hosting the Euro 2028 football championship in Belfast is an unmissable opportunity. As I have said, it will create millions for the local economy. The recent report commissioned by Ulster GAA revealed that hosting those games in the North would be worth over £100 million to the local economy. Those figures speak to the economic benefits of hosting those games. Hosting that championship in a newly developed Casement Park is an unmissable and unique economic opportunity that will leave an unprecedented legacy for local sport.

Maolíosa McHugh (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chéad-Aire as a freagraí go dtí seo.

[Translation: I thank the First Minister for her answers so far.]

Will the First Minister commit to doing all that she can to ensure that the Euro 2028 bid is successful?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes, such opportunities should not be missed. Of course, I will continue to do all that I can to ensure that we have a state-of-the-art stadium that is fit for purpose and that the Euro 2028 bid is the success that everyone wants it to be, which I genuinely believe to be the case. We just need to see an end to the dithering and for the British Government to deliver on their commitment to provide funding for the stadium without any more delays.

Doug Beattie (UUP, Upper Bann)

T4. Mr Beattie asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when we will see a new or amended ministerial code, given that amendments to the ministerial code to incorporate changes made by the Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 were agreed in February 2022, notwithstanding this place being down for two years. (AQT 324/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

That is a matter that the Member has raised before. I do not have the time frame, but I will come back to the Member as it is an area that he is particularly keen to see advanced. With no institutions in place, the amendments were not put in place, but they need to be. I am happy to respond in writing.

Doug Beattie (UUP, Upper Bann)

Thanks, First Minister. The point that I am getting at is that the ministerial code no longer reflects legislation. Has the Attorney General given a view on the validity of the present ministerial code?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Again, as part of the written response, I will confirm whether the AG has expressed a view. Nothing has been brought to my attention on that, but I am very happy to look into it.

Colm Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

T5. Mr Gildernew asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the First Minister agrees with the assessment in a report recently commissioned by Ulster GAA in which accountants Grant Thornton stated that hosting the Euro 2028 games here could be worth more than £106 million to the local economy. (AQT 325/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes. As I said earlier, the economic benefits would be transformational, and it is an epic opportunity to have such a world-class championship here in 2028. Imagine the knock-on impact that that would have on young people and sport and its legacy. We have to be ambitious about our place in the world and our ability to host the event. I am committed to making sure that all the opportunities are maximised.

Colm Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Do you believe that British Prime Minister Sunak should be clearer on the British Government's financial commitment to the building of Casement Park?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes. We need urgent clarity from the British Government on how they will contribute. We have had the language of "substantial contribution" over and over again, but what does that look like? Casement Park will unlock a huge economic driver and ensure that we are at the heart of hosting one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. Also, as the Member is aware, Casement Park is a flagship project for the Executive, and building it is a New Decade, New Approach commitment.

Emma Sheerin (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

T6. Ms Sheerin asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the First Minister agrees that Israel’s barbaric attack on a refugee camp full of displaced Palestinians was another example of why there needs to be a complete and total ceasefire in Palestine, given that she will have seen over the weekend the horrible images from Gaza that flooded our screens. (AQT 326/22-27)