Budget (No.2) Bill: Final stage

The Budget Bill passed its final stage, on 3 July 2012.

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson explained the bill's purpose was to enable departments to continue to use resources and spend money for the remainder of the financial year.

He highlighted a need for ministers to "prudentially manage resources allocated to them".

"We want every penny of public money spent on the provision of public services spent wisely," he said.

Independent member David McNarry commended the minister on a "good job" but said this budget was not "a total panacea for recovery".

Daithi McKay, who replaced his Sinn Fein colleague Conor Murphy as chairman of the finance committee, voiced concern that statutory committees were not afforded sufficient opportunities to scrutinise the estimates which relate to budget bills.

In response, Mr Wilson said he wanted greater transparency in the process.

The bill was passed on a community vote.