The Stormont budget debate, held last Tuesday, was in many ways a formality as the financial settlement had already been agreed upon by the main executive parties in April.

The lengthy session was an excruciating exercise in performative politics. Many of our elected representatives were barely able to hide their boredom.

Notwithstanding the quality of the discussion, a budget has been passed for the first time in three years, which is an achievement of sorts.

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However, the fact that we have agreed a budget without sight of a programme for government highlights the dysfunctional nature of Stormont. Without this blueprint, which sets the strategic direction for the work of the executive, there is no way to assess budgetary decisions against stated priorities and alignment to outcomes.

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One might reasonably ask, why has it not materialised? It is........

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