Two new pieces of legislation strengthen accountability and support communities – O’Dowd

Date published: 15 June 2026

Speaking following the debates, the Minister said: “Good legislation plays an important role in delivering better outcomes for all. It helps shape effective public services while ensuring strong accountability through clear legal responsibilities and oversight.

“Working collaboratively across departments, my department brought forward the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill to deliver a range of measures through a single streamlined piece of legislation.

“The Bill also places a number of existing activities, previously reliant on the Budget Act authority alone, on a clearer statutory footing.

“These measures will strengthen accountability, modernise public services, and give us better tools to support the economy, the marine environment and education sector as well as protecting people and delivering better outcomes for communities.”

The Minister added: “The Fiscal Council has made a significant impact in improving the transparency, scrutiny and understanding of our public finances since it was established, on a non-statutory basis, in 2021.

“The finalised legislation secures the Council’s independence, providing it with a broad and flexible remit to assess and comment on our public finances and their sustainability. I welcome the continued scrutiny to improve the transparency and understanding of our public finances, that these safeguards will inevitably bring.”