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Ministers vote on 'UDA fund' case Ministers vote on 'UDA fund' case
(about 4 hours later)
Stormont ministers are to meet to vote on a decision to cut £1m of funding to the UDA-linked Conflict Transformation Initiative. Ministers are to vote on the cutting of £1m funding to the UDA-linked Conflict Transformation Initiative.
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie faces a high court challenge to her decision to cut government funding to the scheme. Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie faces a High Court challenge to her decision to cut government funding to the scheme.
Last week the Northern Ireland Executive considered a request to give retrospective approval to her decision. The issue caused serious tensions in the executive last year. Last week, the executive considered a request to give retrospective approval to her decision, which caused serious tensions last year.
Sinn Fein is expected to back Ms Ritchie in the vote.
Ms Ritchie infuriated Finance Minister Peter Robinson when she announced she intended to cut the funding.Ms Ritchie infuriated Finance Minister Peter Robinson when she announced she intended to cut the funding.
Mr Robinson accused her of "acting without executive authority" and "breaching" the ministerial code.Mr Robinson accused her of "acting without executive authority" and "breaching" the ministerial code.
However, Ms Ritchie maintained she was within her rights to take the decision, which she announced when the UDA failed to begin decommissioning weapons after a 60-day deadline set for last October.However, Ms Ritchie maintained she was within her rights to take the decision, which she announced when the UDA failed to begin decommissioning weapons after a 60-day deadline set for last October.