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Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness return to welfare deadlock Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness return to welfare deadlock
(35 minutes later)
The first and deputy first ministers are arriving back in Northern Ireland on Thursday as political deadlock continues over changes to benefits.The first and deputy first ministers are arriving back in Northern Ireland on Thursday as political deadlock continues over changes to benefits.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness were on a short visit to the US for investment meetings.Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness were on a short visit to the US for investment meetings.
At the start of this week, Sinn Féin withdrew support for welfare reform legislation.At the start of this week, Sinn Féin withdrew support for welfare reform legislation.
The move has raised questions about the future of devolved government in Northern Ireland.The move has raised questions about the future of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said she hopes to meet the leaders of the five executive parties to try to find a way forward.Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said she hopes to meet the leaders of the five executive parties to try to find a way forward.
On Wednesday, Sinn Féin released a 25-page dossier to explain why it had withdrawn support from the welfare reform bill.On Wednesday, Sinn Féin released a 25-page dossier to explain why it had withdrawn support from the welfare reform bill.
It repeats the party's accusation that the DUP "acted in bad faith" during talks between the two parties on welfare reform implementation.It repeats the party's accusation that the DUP "acted in bad faith" during talks between the two parties on welfare reform implementation.
Sinn Féin said it had made it clear it wanted to provide full protection for current and future benefits claimants.Sinn Féin said it had made it clear it wanted to provide full protection for current and future benefits claimants.
The DUP said there "wasn't the money in December and there is not the money in March" for what Sinn Féin wanted.The DUP said there "wasn't the money in December and there is not the money in March" for what Sinn Féin wanted.
"There's no point in pretending we can find £286m to meet Sinn Féin's belated demands on this and demands they did not ask to be included in the agreement," Sammy Wilson, DUP, said."There's no point in pretending we can find £286m to meet Sinn Féin's belated demands on this and demands they did not ask to be included in the agreement," Sammy Wilson, DUP, said.
Mr Wilson said either Sinn Féin accepted that and let the executive operate within its budget, "or I think the only other consequence is that the government in Westminster accepts that this is not an issue that is going to be resolved by the Northern Ireland Assembly and takes welfare back and the whole benefits system back.Mr Wilson said either Sinn Féin accepted that and let the executive operate within its budget, "or I think the only other consequence is that the government in Westminster accepts that this is not an issue that is going to be resolved by the Northern Ireland Assembly and takes welfare back and the whole benefits system back.
"We have in black and white what was agreed in the Stormont House Agreement and then Stormont Castle and nowhere in that document does it mention that there would be future payments covered." "We have, in black and white, what was agreed in the Stormont House Agreement and then Stormont Castle and nowhere in that document does it mention that there would be future payments covered."
The Sinn Féin dossier says the £564m cost for a benefit top-up scheme contained in the Stormont Castle Agreement on welfare was described as "indicative" and therefore, was not definitive.The Sinn Féin dossier says the £564m cost for a benefit top-up scheme contained in the Stormont Castle Agreement on welfare was described as "indicative" and therefore, was not definitive.
"The protection of existing and future claimants was the basis on which Sinn Féin endorsed the Welfare Bill," the party's Conor Murphy said."The protection of existing and future claimants was the basis on which Sinn Féin endorsed the Welfare Bill," the party's Conor Murphy said.
"However, three weeks ago the DUP then attempted to roll back from the commitments made in the Stormont House Agreement by attempting to limit protections to existing claimants only.""However, three weeks ago the DUP then attempted to roll back from the commitments made in the Stormont House Agreement by attempting to limit protections to existing claimants only."