15 April 2026
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA has said the continued chaotic buck passing at the Executive over the draft multi-year Budget is demeaning devolution.
It comes after it emerged that a heavily trailed joint study on Northern Ireland's devolved finances may never see the light of day.
At today's finance committee - chaired by Mr O'Toole - Department of Finance officials could not confirm whether the much-vaunted 'open book exercise' announced by the Finance Minister and jointly conducted by his officials and the Treasury would ever be published.
It comes on the same day that it was reported that the Executive would invite Secretary of State Hillary Benn to participate in an Executive meeting - further undermining the principle of devolved power and responsibility taking.
The Executive still has not agreed a multi-year Budget ten months after the Treasury set out the UK comprehensive spending review, three months after the Finance Minister published a draft Budget and two weeks after they officially breached the law by failing to agree a Budget.
South Belfast MLA Matthew O'Toole said:
"The Executive shambles over the Budget is further demeaning the principles and reputation of devolution. After boasting that a so-called 'open book exercise' - ie allowing the Treasury to mark the Executive's homework - would vindicate his analysis of Executive finances, John O'Dowd's officials now say the report may never be made public unless the Treasury agrees, and that doing so might be 'unhelpful'. Having undermined devolution by conceding this exercise, it now appears the findings will be hidden away.
"It comes on the same day that the Executive further demeans the principles and practice of devolution by inviting a British Secretary of State to sit in on an Executive meeting where the Budget is discussed. It is truly demeaning the extent to which local ministers will go to avoid collective leadership locally.
"The public, who in the last week received inflation busting rates rises but as yet no help with energy costs, deserve better than an Executive which is so allergic to responsibility that they will rather breach the law by failing to pass a Budget than show leadership."