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| Northern Ireland welfare reform debate expected to go ahead | Northern Ireland welfare reform debate expected to go ahead |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland assembly members are due to debate the final stage of the controversial welfare reform bill later. | Northern Ireland assembly members are due to debate the final stage of the controversial welfare reform bill later. |
| Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) sources indicated the debate will proceed despite Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson's admission to hospital with a suspected heart attack. | |
| However, it is expected the welfare reform bill will be vetoed. | However, it is expected the welfare reform bill will be vetoed. |
| This is because both Sinn Féin and the SDLP have signed a petition of concern. | This is because both Sinn Féin and the SDLP have signed a petition of concern. |
| Mr Robinson, 66, was taken to the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, on Monday morning after he became ill. | Mr Robinson, 66, was taken to the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, on Monday morning after he became ill. |
| The leader of the DUP was then transferred to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) where he underwent a procedure. | The leader of the DUP was then transferred to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) where he underwent a procedure. |
| The first minister's hospitalisation came on the eve of the major debate at Stormont. | The first minister's hospitalisation came on the eve of the major debate at Stormont. |
| But DUP sources say the first minister's illness does not change the urgent nature of the deadline facing the Stormont parties for agreeing a budget. | But DUP sources say the first minister's illness does not change the urgent nature of the deadline facing the Stormont parties for agreeing a budget. |
| Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey of the DUP is still expected to move the bill on Tuesday, even though nationalist opposition means his measure looks doomed. | Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey of the DUP is still expected to move the bill on Tuesday, even though nationalist opposition means his measure looks doomed. |
| Presuming the bill is rejected later on Tuesday, the executive faces an almost impossible situation, with the Finance Minister, Arlene Foster, calculating the Stormont departments will have to deal with around£600m in cuts. | Presuming the bill is rejected later on Tuesday, the executive faces an almost impossible situation, with the Finance Minister, Arlene Foster, calculating the Stormont departments will have to deal with around£600m in cuts. |
| BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport says that assuming the parties cannot agree to impose such a budget, the Northern Ireland Office may face fresh pressure to intervene. | BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport says that assuming the parties cannot agree to impose such a budget, the Northern Ireland Office may face fresh pressure to intervene. |
| Speaking about the planned debate in light of the first minister's illness, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin said: "We will have to wait and see what happens overnight." | Speaking about the planned debate in light of the first minister's illness, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin said: "We will have to wait and see what happens overnight." |
| Last week, Mr Robinson warned that the assembly could not survive the scenario which would unfold if the welfare reform bill was not approved. | Last week, Mr Robinson warned that the assembly could not survive the scenario which would unfold if the welfare reform bill was not approved. |
| The Northern Ireland parties had agreed a deal on Westminster's welfare reform in the Stormont House Agreement last December. | The Northern Ireland parties had agreed a deal on Westminster's welfare reform in the Stormont House Agreement last December. |
| However, Sinn Féin withdrew its support for the bill in March. | However, Sinn Féin withdrew its support for the bill in March. |
| Sinn Féin and the SDLP have signed a petition of concern, which means the bill will be blocked on Tuesday as it will not get the necessary cross-community support. | Sinn Féin and the SDLP have signed a petition of concern, which means the bill will be blocked on Tuesday as it will not get the necessary cross-community support. |