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| Water privatisation is ruled out | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly has ruled out the future privatisation of water and sewerage services. | |
| The announcement was made by Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy who said an independent panel would review the issue of water charges. | |
| A review of domestic rates will also be carried out. Finance Minister Peter Robinson said it would last 12 weeks. | A review of domestic rates will also be carried out. Finance Minister Peter Robinson said it would last 12 weeks. |
| Meanwhile, First Minister Ian Paisley took questions from assembly members for the first time on Monday. | Meanwhile, First Minister Ian Paisley took questions from assembly members for the first time on Monday. |
| Mr Paisley's first question time featured jibes at the Ulster Unionists, and at Sinn Fein over its poor performance in the Irish Republic's election. | |
| He also faced questions from the SDLP's Delores Kelly on recent remarks made by his son Ian Paisley Jnr about homosexuals. | |
| However, Mr Paisley said his office was totally committed to promoting equality of human rights. | |
| Questions to the first and deputy first ministers will be held once a fortnight and other devolved ministers will face questions once a month. | Questions to the first and deputy first ministers will be held once a fortnight and other devolved ministers will face questions once a month. |
| Assembly members had to table their enquiries by the end of last month. | Assembly members had to table their enquiries by the end of last month. |