Committee for Finance
Minutes of Proceedings, 7 May 2025
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Matthew O'Toole MLA (Chairperson)
Diane Forsythe MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Phillip Brett MLA
Gerry Carroll MLA
Jemma Dolan MLA
Paul Frew MLA
Deirdre Hargey MLA
Eoin Tennyson MLA
Apologies:
Steve Aiken MLA
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 1.04pm in public session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Interests
In relation to relevant agenda items, Diane Forsythe, the deputy Chairperson declared an interest as a current member of the Public Accounts Committee.
3. NI Banking & Financial Services Landscape Inquiry - Oral Briefing from Association of British Insurers
Agreed: Members agreed that the oral briefing should be reported by Hansard.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 1.07pm:
Alastair Ross FCIPR Assistant Director, Head of Public Policy (Scotland, Wales & NI), Association of British Insurers (ABI); and
Mark Shepherd Assistant Director, Head of General Insurance, ABI.
The Committee considered a written submission from ABI and the ABI Financial Inclusion Strategy. Members also considered a follow-up response from Cash Access UK, following the Committee's visit to Kilkeel Banking Hub.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to add these papers to the Inquiry's evidence base.
The witnesses briefed the Committee on specific challenges around the perception that Northern Ireland consumers pay increased insurance premiums. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Deirdre Hargey joined the meeting at 1.18pm.
Gerry Carroll joined the meeting at 1.24pm.
A number of issues were discussed including: the higher incidence of injury awards in Northern Ireland, a perceived consumer gap in Northern Ireland in relation to Claims Management Companies, factors which impact on insurance premiums, flooding risk factors and industry initiatives.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their attendance and engagement with the Committee. The witnesses left the meeting at 1.53pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek additional information from the ABI on a number of issues including; detail on initiatives to address issues in respect of flooding, criteria used by local insurance companies, Northern Ireland specific data on premiums paid and Financial Inclusion work by the UK Government.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek detail from the Department of Finance on discussions between devolved jurisdictions and the UK Government in respect of the cross-government Motor Insurance Taskforce.
Paul Frew left the meeting at 1.53pm.
The Committee suspended at 1.53pm and resumed at 2.01pm.
4. Minister of Finance - Oral Briefing on current issues
Agreed: Members agreed that the oral briefing should be reported by Hansard.
The Minister of Finance and senior officials joined the meeting at 2.01pm:
John O'Dowd MLA Minister of Finance;
Neil Gibson Permanent Secretary; and
Joanne McBurney Deputy Secretary, Public Spending Directorate.
Paul Frew rejoined the meeting at 2.02pm.
The Committee considered a number of relevant supporting papers.
Members also noted a copy of the report "The impact of the increased Cost of Doing Business"; an assessment by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre.
The Minister of Finance provided the Committee with an overview of the first few months of his time in office. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. A number of issues were discussed including transformation funding, the strategic review of rating policy, "Cost of Doing Business" review, fiscal devolution, NICS sick absence, the Department of Finance's legislative programme, difficulties within recent recruitment exercises, appointments to the Public Sector Transformation Board and ring-fencing of budgets.
The Chairperson thanked the Minister and his officials for their attendance. The Minister and officials left the meeting at 4.02pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request an update on a number of issues including the Strategic Income Review, an action plan flowing from the "Cost of Doing Business" report, application of Prof. Holtham's assessment of relative need, details on the HR platform used for recruitment (including email contact for applicants experiencing difficulties), the process for making additional appointments to the Public Sector Transformation Board, approvals for Transformation funding and details of the second round of that funding.
Deirdre Hargey left the meeting at 4.03pm.
5. Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill - Oral Briefing by Department of Finance
Agreed: Members agreed that the oral briefing should be reported by Hansard.
Phillip Brett left the meeting at 4.05pm.
The Committee considered a number of relevant supporting papers. Members also noted previous correspondence from the Department of Finance in relation to the legal basis for a Baby Loss Certificate Scheme in Northern Ireland.
The following Department of Finance officials joined the meeting at 4.06pm:
Philip Wales Chief Executive and Registrar General; and
Aoife Rooney Deputy Registrar General.
Deirdre Hargey rejoined the meeting at 4.10pm.
Phillip Brett rejoined the meeting at 4.17pm.
The officials briefed the Committee on the drafting and detailed provisions of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. A number of issues were discussed including; read across from the temporary Coronavirus Act provisions, outstanding queries following the Second Stage debate, the timetable for Committee Stage, sequencing for Regulations flowing from the primary Bill, departmental consultation on a Baby Loss Certificate Scheme, provisions for charging within the Bill and detail of changes to resolve registration disparities.
Members noted that answers to Paul Frew's queries during Second Stage debate remained outstanding. Departmental officials also indicated that they would provide the Committee with detailed rationale for including the provision for charging within the Bill.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance. The officials left the meeting at 5.06pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into closed session to consider procedural advice in relation to the Committee Stage for the Bill.
The Committee moved into closed session at 5.06pm.
The Committee considered a number of papers related to its approach to Committee stage of the Bill including; a detailed working timetable for the Committee Stage of the Bill, a draft Committee motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Bill, a draft signposting advertisement, draft questions for the Committee's Call for Evidence survey and a targeted list of stakeholders with associated correspondence in this regard.
Members considered and discussed the detailed working timetable for Committee Stage and advice provided in this regard.
Gerry Carroll left the meeting at 5.32pm.
The Committee returned to public session at 5.41pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed an amended timetable for Committee Stage of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed an amended motion extending the Committee Stage of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill to Wednesday 1st October 2025.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue a call for evidence on the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill for a 4-week period and to place a sign-post advertisement in the 3 main newspapers.
Agreed: The Committee agreed questions for its call for evidence on the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss which would be hosted on Citizen Space.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the list of targeted stakeholders to be consulted directly on the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill with additions proposed by Members.
Eoin Tennyson left the meeting at 5.42pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of item 6. Chairperson's Business, item 8. Matters Arising and item 9. Correspondence until the next meeting scheduled for 21st May 2025.
7. Draft Minutes of Proceedings
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings from the meeting of the 30th April 2025.
10. Draft Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme, as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Forward Work Programme should be published on the Committee webpages.
11. Any Other Business
None.
12. Date and Time of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 21st May 2025 at 1.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 5.44pm.
Matthew O'Toole
Chairperson, Committee for Finance
21st May 2025
