AQW 4375/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 29/05/2020
Answered On Date: 05/06/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance for an update on the establishment of a fiscal council, as outlined in New Decade, New Approach.

Answer:

My officials had begun work earlier in the year in examining the options for establishing a Fiscal Council that will deliver on the commitment as set out in New Decade New Approach.

This included learning from the experience of the other Fiscal Councils in place across Britain, the south of Ireland and further afield, and considering what the Council’s terms of reference might be, and how members could be appointed.

Work in this regard however has not progressed as intended as the Department has had to focus on the immediate COVID-19 response. I remain committed to establishing a Fiscal Council and my officials will be refocussing on this commitment once the demand for resources to tackle COVID-19 eases.