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Executive 'carved-up' - Ritchie | Executive 'carved-up' - Ritchie |
(30 minutes later) | |
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has accused some executive colleagues of altering the minutes of their last meeting. | Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has accused some executive colleagues of altering the minutes of their last meeting. |
She told the BBC the record did not reflect the 8 October meeting and claimed there had been a DUP/Sinn Fein "carve up" of the executive. | |
The row follows the SDLP minister's move on Tuesday to withdraw funding from a UDA-linked project. | The row follows the SDLP minister's move on Tuesday to withdraw funding from a UDA-linked project. |
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and Nigel Dodds, DUP, criticised the remarks. | Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and Nigel Dodds, DUP, criticised the remarks. |
Ms Ritchie made the comments on the BBC Hearts and Minds programme on Thursday, just hours after the latest meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive. | |
At issue is whether the executive had asked Ms Ritchie to seek legal advice over the issue of funding a UDA-linked project and share it - or whether, as the minutes passed suggest, she was supposed to report back and give other ministers time to consider the legal advice. | |
She told the BBC: "What I am saying is that what I and my executive colleagues agreed last Monday night changed, and we were presented late last night or early this morning with a draft minute which was substantially different from what we agreed." | She told the BBC: "What I am saying is that what I and my executive colleagues agreed last Monday night changed, and we were presented late last night or early this morning with a draft minute which was substantially different from what we agreed." |
The UDA insisted it would decommission in its own time | The UDA insisted it would decommission in its own time |
Asked who she thought was responsible for this, Ms Ritchie said: "I think this represents the carve-up between the DUP and Sinn Fein." | Asked who she thought was responsible for this, Ms Ritchie said: "I think this represents the carve-up between the DUP and Sinn Fein." |
In response Nigel Dodds said: "Everybody accepts the aims and objectives that Margaret Ritchie has set out as far as paramlitarism is concerned as far as the UDA is concerned. | In response Nigel Dodds said: "Everybody accepts the aims and objectives that Margaret Ritchie has set out as far as paramlitarism is concerned as far as the UDA is concerned. |
"We've got to go about this in a legal way, in a proper process, in a way in which the executive has laid down. | "We've got to go about this in a legal way, in a proper process, in a way in which the executive has laid down. |
"And because Margaret Ritchie finds herself on the wrong end of the argument on that, then she resorts to all sorts of wild and scurrilous allegations." | "And because Margaret Ritchie finds herself on the wrong end of the argument on that, then she resorts to all sorts of wild and scurrilous allegations." |
Earlier on Thursday evening, Sinn Fein and SDLP ministers clashed after a tense executive meeting at Stormont Castle. | Earlier on Thursday evening, Sinn Fein and SDLP ministers clashed after a tense executive meeting at Stormont Castle. |
Ms Ritchie expressed dismay over how colleagues responded to her decision to axe funding for a UDA-linked initiative. | Ms Ritchie expressed dismay over how colleagues responded to her decision to axe funding for a UDA-linked initiative. |
The executive did not vote on the principle of her decision to cut £1.2m in loyalist funding. But it did adopt the minutes which Ms Ritchie contested. | The executive did not vote on the principle of her decision to cut £1.2m in loyalist funding. But it did adopt the minutes which Ms Ritchie contested. |
Voting | |
It put on record she had agreed not to act without consulting colleagues. | It put on record she had agreed not to act without consulting colleagues. |
On her way out, Ms Ritchie accused Sinn Fein of voting with the DUP against her and both parties of trying to control other ministers. | On her way out, Ms Ritchie accused Sinn Fein of voting with the DUP against her and both parties of trying to control other ministers. |
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he was very disappointed and said the social development minister was "losing the run of herself". | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he was very disappointed and said the social development minister was "losing the run of herself". |
A 60-day deadline for the Ulster Defence Association to begin giving up guns expired last Tuesday. | A 60-day deadline for the Ulster Defence Association to begin giving up guns expired last Tuesday. |
The deadline was set in August after repeated violence linked to the UDA. | The deadline was set in August after repeated violence linked to the UDA. |
However, the UDA said it would adhere to its own timetable for getting rid of its weapons. | However, the UDA said it would adhere to its own timetable for getting rid of its weapons. |
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