Ó Muilleoir addresses Finance Committee

Date published: 8 June 2016

Speaking to Committee members at Parliament Buildings, the Minister emphasised the importance of the Department’s work in supporting both our economy and local communities.

The Minister said: “My mission is to work with all to cement the peace, create a prosperous shared society and foster a strong, jobs-rich economy with opportunity for all.

“It’s my intention as Finance Minister to place a special focus on an enhanced peace dividend for working class communities and for border regions which may feel left behind. The funds available to us as a Government do not match the scale of ambition of our community so I will make every effort to defend and grow the funding ‘pie’ in the time ahead.

“I will also encourage the Finance Committee to join their voice with mine against austerity and for more fiscal autonomy so that we can make decisions in the interest of all our people rather than have decisions imposed on us.

“The Executive has supported local families against austerity by keeping student fees affordable, blocking the bedroom tax, providing the most generous welfare mitigations in these islands and preventing water charges. But there is more to do, including working with our allies in Scotland and Wales, to ensure that the self-defeating austerity agenda does not prevail.

“My pledge to the Committee is that I will be relentlessly positive, bold and ambitious in investing prudently and wisely for the future. I know we share a commitment to help to support economic growth and the ambitions of our communities and I look forward to a constructive relationship with the Finance Committee.”