29 January 2026
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has welcomed the Finance Minister’s decision to pause the rates revaluation for pubs, hotels, hospitality and small retail businesses.
He said the proposal should have never have got the greenlight from Sinn Féin Finance Minister John O’Dowd, whose arrogant and dismissive response to concerns deepened frustration.
Mr O’Toole said businesses needed certainty after the confusion from the Minister and his department.
South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole MLA said:
“Last week pubs, hotels, hospitality and small retail businesses across Northern Ireland received letters informing them that their rates would rise exponentially. For some this meant a doubling or tripling of the bills, while others were facing the very real prospect of closing their doors for good. This was all done with the approval of the Finance Minster who waved this policy through without a second thought.
“We have seen a huge backlash to these proposals that threatened businesses, jobs and our local economy. The SDLP Opposition joined forces with hospitality groups to make clear the damage that would be caused and urge the Finance Minister to pause and reverse these proposals.
“The Finance Minister has now seen sense, but this underlines the dysfunction at Stormont that is delivering so little for the public. Sinn Féin tried to lay the blame for this policy, one that they introduced and would not raise a single penny in revenue, at the feet of the UK Government. That is farcical.
“The SDLP Opposition fought hard to ensure this policy was paused and it is welcome we have secured this injunction. I hope that businesses will soon have the clarity they need, but there is nothing to stop something else coming down the tracks in the next few weeks that will paralyse this place, waved through ambivalently by an Executive that is asleep at the wheel.”