Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Executive needed for major financial decisions
MANY major financial decisions in Northern Ireland cannot be made by permanent secretaries and require an Executive, the head of the civil service has said.
Jayne Brady said some plans would have to wait until Stormont returns, as she warned that public officials heading up Government departments were facing a “difficult situation”.
Last week Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-harris set a budget for Stormont, stating he needed to bring public finances in the region “under control”. Dr
Brady said: “At the moment there will be no ability for civil servants to bring forward new policies or strategies, a programme for government.
“We are in a period of keeping the system running, compounded by a requirement to make savings.
“But equally we won’t be moving and addressing those big systemic issues. That is why it is so important that we get the Executive up and running.
“It is a very difficult situation for permanent secretaries but it is also a very difficult situation for families, for businesses, for teachers, for nurses.”