This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28591275
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland Executive votes to back budget deal | Northern Ireland Executive votes to back budget deal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Stormont departments, excluding health and education, are to have their budgets cut by £78m. | Stormont departments, excluding health and education, are to have their budgets cut by £78m. |
| The figures were revealed at a meeting of the executive that has agreed to endorse the June monitoring round. | The figures were revealed at a meeting of the executive that has agreed to endorse the June monitoring round. |
| Finance Minister Simon Hamilton has also warned that further cuts, amounting to £87m, will be required if a deal on welfare reform is not agreed. | |
| The executive has agreed that the reductions will begin to take place in October. | The executive has agreed that the reductions will begin to take place in October. |
| Of the £78m cuts announced on Thursday, the three hardest hit departments are Employment and Learning, which is losing £16m, Justice, which is facing a £22m cut and Social Development, which is losing £13m. | Of the £78m cuts announced on Thursday, the three hardest hit departments are Employment and Learning, which is losing £16m, Justice, which is facing a £22m cut and Social Development, which is losing £13m. |
| The finance minister has also criticised the Department of Health, run by his DUP colleague Edwin Poots. | The finance minister has also criticised the Department of Health, run by his DUP colleague Edwin Poots. |
| Mr Hamilton was critical of an overspend by the department. He said this was because of "poor budget management". | Mr Hamilton was critical of an overspend by the department. He said this was because of "poor budget management". |
| The Department of Health had requested an extra £160m, but is only to receive an extra £20m, but that is dependent on its performance improving between now and October. | The Department of Health had requested an extra £160m, but is only to receive an extra £20m, but that is dependent on its performance improving between now and October. |
| The executive also confirmed that £4m would be made available for the Historical Abuse Enquiry. | The executive also confirmed that £4m would be made available for the Historical Abuse Enquiry. |
| Mr Hamilton said funding had also been allocated to maintain free public transport for people aged over 60. | Mr Hamilton said funding had also been allocated to maintain free public transport for people aged over 60. |
| Two votes against deal | Two votes against deal |
| A majority of ministers passed the deal on the June monitoring round. | A majority of ministers passed the deal on the June monitoring round. |
| However, the two Alliance ministers voted against it and the Ulster Unionist minister Danny Kennedy abstained. | However, the two Alliance ministers voted against it and the Ulster Unionist minister Danny Kennedy abstained. |
| They said the issue of welfare reform had merely been postponed. | They said the issue of welfare reform had merely been postponed. |
| Mr Kennedy said what he called "voodoo economics" were at play and that there was an "air of unreality". | Mr Kennedy said what he called "voodoo economics" were at play and that there was an "air of unreality". |
| Mr Hamilton said: "Given the significant pressures facing the executive's budget this year, it has been necessary to agree an immediate 2.1% reduction to departmental resource budgets." | Mr Hamilton said: "Given the significant pressures facing the executive's budget this year, it has been necessary to agree an immediate 2.1% reduction to departmental resource budgets." |
| He added: "Further reductions to departmental budgets amounting to £87m will be required as a consequence of welfare reform not progressing. | He added: "Further reductions to departmental budgets amounting to £87m will be required as a consequence of welfare reform not progressing. |
| "The executive has agreed that these reductions should occur in the October monitoring round. | "The executive has agreed that these reductions should occur in the October monitoring round. |
| "This will cause further pain across departments and will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on our public services." | "This will cause further pain across departments and will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on our public services." |
| Northern Ireland is being penalised by the Treasury for not endorsing welfare reforms passed by Westminster in February 2013. | Northern Ireland is being penalised by the Treasury for not endorsing welfare reforms passed by Westminster in February 2013. |
| Sinn Féin has led the opposition to the reforms. | Sinn Féin has led the opposition to the reforms. |
| The party's Daithí McKay said: "What we need to do now is prevent further cuts to our budget from the British government by going and having a united front from the executive in terms of the issue of welfare cuts." | |
| He added: "We have made an agreement and I am very confident that come October we can make an agreement on a way forward. | |
| "What we agreed was to deal with welfare reform and the issues arising from it at the time of the next monitoring round in October." | |
| 'Deeply discontented' | |
| Following Thursday's meeting, the Ulster Unionist Party said there were elements of the budget paper it was "deeply discontented" with and criticised Sinn Féin's stance on welfare reform. | Following Thursday's meeting, the Ulster Unionist Party said there were elements of the budget paper it was "deeply discontented" with and criticised Sinn Féin's stance on welfare reform. |
| "While Sinn Féin may be good negotiators they aren't good at government. Today was a demonstration of voodoo economics," the party said in a statement. | |
| "While they may try and spin the June monitoring round as a victory, all they have done is kick the can down the road." | "While they may try and spin the June monitoring round as a victory, all they have done is kick the can down the road." |
| Alliance Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry said the fact that funding for the health and education departments - "one each for Sinn Féin and the DUP" - would put added pressure on other departments. | |
| He said there was no sign of an agreement between Sinn Féin and the DUP over welfare reform. | |
| "It's an utter standoff, there's no process in train in which they will try and bridge that gap," he said. |