Committee for Finance

Minutes of proceedings 1 April 2025

Committee for Finance minutes of proceedings 1 April 2025.pdf (146.25 kb)

Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Belfast

Present:                   

Diane Forsythe MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Steve Aiken MLA

Phillip Brett MLA

Gerry Carroll MLA

Jemma Dolan MLA

Paul Frew MLA

Deirdre Hargey MLA

Eoin Tennyson MLA

Apologies:               

Matthew O’Toole MLA (Chairperson)

In Attendance:       

Peter Hall Committee Clerk

Clairita Frazer Assistant Assembly Clerk

Tom Armstrong Assistant Assembly Clerk

Stephen Magee Clerical Supervisor

Heather Graham Clerical Officer

The meeting commenced at 1:05pm in public session.

1.    Apologies

As above.

2.    Declaration of Interests

None.

3.    Budget 2025/26 – Oral Briefing from Departmental Officials

Agreed: Members agreed that the oral briefing should be reported by Hansard.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department of Finance on the Chancellor’s Spring Statement; Impact on Executive Funding, Department of Finance briefing papers on the draft Budget position and related publications on the draft Budget 2025-26. The supporting papers would also be included in the Committee’s compilation report on the draft Executive Budget 2025/26.

The following officials joined the meeting at 1.06pm

Joanne McBurney   Deputy Secretary Public Spending; and

Maryann Smith Head of Central Expenditure Division.

The officials briefed the Committee on the 2025-26 Budget and on the Chancellor’s Spring Statement. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Phillip Brett joined the meeting at 1.11pm.

Steve Aiken declared an interest as a former Chief Executive.

A number of issues were discussed including anticipated adjustments at the June Monitoring Round, accountancy professions in the NICS, the challenging nature of final budget positions and 5-year Departmental plans.

Phillip Brett left the meeting at 1.33pm.

The deputy Chairperson thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 1.38pm.

4.    Any Other Business

Agreed: The Committee agreed a Media Operational Notice and Press Release which would be issued as part of the Committee’s external visit and meeting to Kilkeel on 2^nd April 2025.

5.    Date and Time of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 2:00pm in the Kilmorey Arms Hotel, Kilkeel.

The meeting was adjourned at 1.39pm.

Matthew O’Toole

Chairperson, Committee for Finance

9 April 2025