Committee for Finance

Minutes of Proceedings

Minutes of Proceedings 13 December 2021.pdf (158.18 kb)

Committee for Finance

Minutes of Proceedings

13 December 2021

Meeting Location: The Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Present:

Mr Steve Aiken MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Jim Allister MLA

Mr Pat Catney MLA

Ms Jemma Dolan MLA

Mr Maolíosa McHugh MLA

Mr Matthew O’Toole MLA

Mr Jim Wells MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Mr Philip McGuigan MLA

Apologies: None.

In Attendance:

Mr Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)

Ms Carla Campbell (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Ms Shirleen Cornelissen (Clerical Supervisor)

Ms Heather Graham (Clerical Officer)

Proceedings commenced at 2:17pm in public session.

1. Apologies

There were no apologies.

Jemma Dolan delegated authority to vote on her behalf to Maolíosa McHugh under Temporary Standing Order 115(6) in the event of her absence.

2. Declaration of Interests

There were no declarations of interest.

3. Non-Domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill – Oral Evidence from the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuations

The witness joined the meeting at 2:18pm.

• Mr David Magor OBE, Chief Executive, Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation.

The witness briefed the Committee.

Pat Catney joined the meeting at 2:21pm.

Jim Wells joined the meeting at 2:24pm.

Philip McGuigan joined the meeting at 2:26pm.

This was followed by a question and answer session.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The Chairperson thanked the witness for his evidence.

4. Non-Domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill – Oral Evidence from the Department of Finance

The officials joined the meeting at 2:41pm.

• Ian Snowden, Chief Executive, Land and Property Services, Department of Finance.
• Sharon Magee, Director of Rating Policy, Land and Property Services, Department of Finance.
• Angela McGrath, Commissioner of Valuation, Land and Property Services, Department of Finance.

The officials briefed the Committee.

This was followed by a question and answer session.

Jemma Dolan left the meeting at 2:57pm.

Matthew O’Toole left the meeting at 3:01pm.

Jim Allister left the meeting at 3:03pm.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their evidence.

Proceedings continued in closed session from 3:36pm.

5. Non-Domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill – Committee Deliberations

The Committee deliberated on the Non-Domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill.

Agreed:   The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Finance seeking clarity on the inclusion of Covid-19 as an economic but not a physical impact on valuations.

6. Non-Domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill – Formal clause by clause scrutiny

Agreed:     The Committee agreed to defer the clause by clause scrutiny of the Non-Domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill until 15 December 2021.

7. Any Other Business

Agreed:     The Committee agreed to copy the Department’s response on the Defamation Bill to the Bill Sponsor for his information.

There was no other business.

8. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Finance will be at 2pm on Wednesday 15 December 2021 in the Senate and on Starleaf.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:49pm.

Mr Steve Aiken MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Finance

5 January 2022