Committee for Finance
Minutes of proceedings 10 June 2026
Committee for Finance minutes of proceedings 10 June 2026.pdf (149.79 kb)
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Belfast
Present:
Matthew O’Toole MLA (Chairperson)
Harry Harvey MLA
Apologies:
Deirdre Hargey MLA
Virtual:
Diane Forsythe MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Steve Aiken MBE MLA
Gerry Carroll MLA
Jemma Dolan MLA
Brian Kingston MLA
Eoin Tennyson MLA
In Attendance:
Peter Hall Committee Clerk
Fiona Rooney Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk
Clairita Frazer Assistant Assembly Clerk
Tom Armstrong Assistant Assembly Clerk
Stephen Magee Clerical Supervisor
Heather Graham Clerical Officer
The meeting commenced at 2:01pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
As above.
2. Declaration of Interests.
None.
3. NIPSA – Oral Briefing – Performance and Culture of the Northern Ireland Civil Service
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Hansard would provide a transcript of the oral evidence session.
The Committee considered relevant papers for this session, including a Clerk’s Memo and previous correspondence between NIPSA and the Committee regarding the Inquiry.
The Committee also considered 2 items of correspondence from an individual regarding the sustainability of the NICS Pay Framework.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to add the correspondence to the evidence base of the Inquiry.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 2:02pm;
Carmel Gates General Secretary, NIPSA
Denise Crilly Trade Union Side Secretary, NIPSA
The Chairperson reflected on the current working environment for public servants and circumstances, thanking them for their efforts.
The witnesses briefed the Committee on the historical position of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and future potential developments for change.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session and a number of issues were discussed including; the impact of the Voluntary Exit Scheme, staffing levels, vacancies, capacity and capability, recruitment, Interg8 changes and sickness absence.
Gerry Carroll joined the meeting at 2:07pm.
Brian Kingston left the meeting at 2:59pm.
Gerry Carroll left the meeting at 3:00pm.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their attendance, and the witnesses left the meeting at 3:14pm.
4. Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill – Committee Deliberations
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Hansard would provide a transcript of the oral evidence session.
The Committee considered a DALO Readout Response to the Convention Rights Memorandum for the Bill.
The Committee considered written responses to the Call for Evidence on the Bill from “Give Couples Choice Movement”, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Humanists Together and the National Secular Society.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to add these responses to the evidence base for the Committee’s Report in due course.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite NICCY to provide oral evidence on the Bill and to consider scheduling further oral evidence sessions with other respondees when the Call for Evidence had closed.
5. SR 2026/99 The Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Remediable Service) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
The Committee considered a statutory rule laid by the Department of Finance: SR 2026/99 The Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Remediable Service) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026, which will make minor, technical and clarificatory amendments to legislation relating to the McCloud remedy, principally the Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Remediable Service) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023.
Members noted that the rule was subject to negative resolution procedure, that it would come into operation on 18th June 2026 and that the end of the statutory period was 30th June 2026.
Members also noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules has indicated, in her 68th Report, that the Rule is not required to be drawn to the special attention of the Assembly.
Agreed: The Committee for Finance has considered SR2026/99 The Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Remediable Service) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 and has no objection to the rule.
6. Strategic Overview of Land & Property Assets – Written Briefing – Land and Property Services
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister of Finance enclosing a written briefing provided by Land and Property Services on the Strategic Overview of Land and Property Assets. Members noted that the report provides an overview of the land and property assets owned, leased, occupied, used or overseen by Northern Ireland central government (i.e. Departments and ALBs).
7. Chairperson’s Business.
7.1. SR 2026/100 The Baby Loss Certificate Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
The Committee noted the SR 2026/100 The Baby Loss Certificate Regulations (Northern Ireland) had been approved by Resolution of the Assembly on 26th May 2026.
8. Draft Minutes of Proceedings.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings from the meeting of the 3rd June 2026.
9. Gender Budgeting – Oral Briefing – Assembly Research and Library Service (RaISe)
The Committee noted that the scheduled oral briefing with RaISe had been postponed and would be rescheduled for the Autumn session.
10. Matters Arising
11. Correspondence
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Matters Arising and Correspondence would be disposed of via email and read into the record during next week's meeting, at which time Members would have an opportunity to comment.
12. Draft Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered its Forward Work Programme and a number of upcoming briefings.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a joint informal meeting with the Economy Committee and Trade NI on 7th October 2026.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an oral briefing with Department of Finance on the Legislative Consent Memorandum associated with the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill. This would take place at next week’s meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an oral briefing with the Head of the Civil Service on the Public Sector Transformation Board after the summer recess.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Forward Work Programme should be published on the Committee webpages.
13 Any Other Business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request regular updates from the Department of Finance on Departments’ use of the Vote on Account and on the wider Budgetary situation. Members also agreed to expand the scheduled oral briefing with the Department of Finance on 1st July to cover wider Budgetary matters.
14. Date and Time of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 17th June 2026 at 2pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:24pm.
Matthew O’Toole
Chairperson, Committee for Finance
17th June 2026
