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Northern Ireland Assembly in 'uncharted waters' - DUP Northern Ireland welfare dispute: Westminster could take over powers
(about 1 hour later)
The DUP has said the Northern Ireland Assembly is entering "uncharted waters" after the Welfare Reform Bill failed to pass on Tuesday. The secretary of state has said she cannot rule out Westminster legislating on welfare matters in Northern Ireland.
The nationalist Sinn Féin and SDLP made a petition of concern, a blocking mechanism, that meant it did not get the required cross-community support. Theresa Villiers is meeting the NI parties and assessing her options following Tuesday night's rejection of the Welfare Reform Bill.
The Green Party leader Steven Agnew also signed the petition of concern. Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Green Party made a petition of concern, a blocking mechanism, that meant it did not get the required cross-community support.
The DUP has said the assembly is entering "uncharted waters".
Alliance Party leader David Ford said it meant the Stormont institutions were "in a very dangerous position".Alliance Party leader David Ford said it meant the Stormont institutions were "in a very dangerous position".
The DUP now wants the government to take back welfare powers.The DUP now wants the government to take back welfare powers.
"The bill is now dead and the financial consequences which stem from that are going to roll out not just this year, but next year and the year after that. We're entering uncharted waters," the DUP's Sammy Wilson said."The bill is now dead and the financial consequences which stem from that are going to roll out not just this year, but next year and the year after that. We're entering uncharted waters," the DUP's Sammy Wilson said.
"I think the only answer for this, since there's not the maturity amongst the nationalist parties in the assembly to deal with this issue, the government must now take on the welfare reform issue itself."I think the only answer for this, since there's not the maturity amongst the nationalist parties in the assembly to deal with this issue, the government must now take on the welfare reform issue itself.
"That then escapes the immediate budget consequences and the longer terms ones as well.""That then escapes the immediate budget consequences and the longer terms ones as well."
However, Sinn Féin has said such a move would be unacceptable.However, Sinn Féin has said such a move would be unacceptable.
"What we have to do is we still have to face the problem - something has to be sorted out because the problem's not going to go away," the party's Alex Maskey said."What we have to do is we still have to face the problem - something has to be sorted out because the problem's not going to go away," the party's Alex Maskey said.
"The parties still have to get round the table. There's an offer from Scotland, from Nicola Sturgeon, let us all sit down and work out together and directly challenge the Tories in London who are trying to impose these drastic cuts.""The parties still have to get round the table. There's an offer from Scotland, from Nicola Sturgeon, let us all sit down and work out together and directly challenge the Tories in London who are trying to impose these drastic cuts."
A majority of 58 assembly members voted in favour and 39 voted against the bill to make changes to benefits that have been introduced in the rest of the UK. A majority of 58 assembly members voted in favour and 39 voted against the bill to make changes to benefits that have been introduced in the rest of the UK.
What is a petition of concern?
The measure was designed as a way to safeguard minority rights in Stormont's power-sharing assembly.
If a petition of concern is presented to the assembly speaker, any motion or amendment will need cross-community support.
In such cases, a vote on proposed legislation will only pass if supported by a weighted majority (60%) of members voting, including at least 40% of each of the nationalist and unionist designations present and voting.
Effectively this means that, provided enough MLAs from a particular community agree, that community can exercise a veto over the assembly's decisions.
There were several mitigation schemes in the bill that would have lessened its impact.There were several mitigation schemes in the bill that would have lessened its impact.
'Measure of the crisis''Measure of the crisis'
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers said the fall of the bill "leaves the Executive finances in disarray. We all need to reflect carefully on the way forward."
David Ford of the Alliance Party said it was not clear what would happen now. "Within the next couple of weeks we have to resolve the budget issue, not just the June monitoring round - the reallocation between departments in year - but actually to pass the bill to allow departments to spend money in the second half of the financial year," he said.David Ford of the Alliance Party said it was not clear what would happen now. "Within the next couple of weeks we have to resolve the budget issue, not just the June monitoring round - the reallocation between departments in year - but actually to pass the bill to allow departments to spend money in the second half of the financial year," he said.
"So that's a measure of the crisis we're in, that has to be resolved and it's unclear at this stage how that will be resolved.""So that's a measure of the crisis we're in, that has to be resolved and it's unclear at this stage how that will be resolved."
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said Sinn Féin was making the vulnerable in Northern Ireland suffer for their political aspirations in the Republic.Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said Sinn Féin was making the vulnerable in Northern Ireland suffer for their political aspirations in the Republic.
"We now stand closer than ever to the point where we witness the death of democracy in Northern Ireland. This will come when duly elected politicians have to hand over power to a civil servant," he said."We now stand closer than ever to the point where we witness the death of democracy in Northern Ireland. This will come when duly elected politicians have to hand over power to a civil servant," he said.
TUV leader Jim Allister said "the chickens are coming home to roost in the failure of mandatory coalition".TUV leader Jim Allister said "the chickens are coming home to roost in the failure of mandatory coalition".
The devolution of corporation tax to Northern Ireland was dependant on welfare reform being implemented and business organisations have said the issue must be resolved.
"Only with these powers can we secure the economic and societal transformation that is key to all our futures, raise our living standards and help move people out of welfare and into work," the CBI's Nigel Smyth said.
Eamonn Donaghy, of Grow NI, said: "The power to create tens of thousands of jobs is now within our grasp, but unless our politicians seize this opportunity it will jeopardise significant employment growth opportunities and will increase inequality in Northern Ireland."
Tuesday's debate went ahead despite Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson's admission to hospital with a suspected heart attack on Monday.
DUP sources say the 66-year-old party leader is making good progress and has been given a full briefing on Tuesday's events at Stormont.
Last week, Mr Robinson said the assembly could not survive the scenario that would unfold if the welfare reform bill was not approved.
However, Sinn Féin accused the DUP of scaremongering with its budget forecasts.
The Northern Ireland parties had agreed a deal on Westminster's welfare reform measures in the Stormont House Agreement last December.The Northern Ireland parties had agreed a deal on Westminster's welfare reform measures in the Stormont House Agreement last December.
However, Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March.However, Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March.
What is a petition of concern?
The measure was designed as a way to safeguard minority rights in Stormont's power-sharing assembly.
If a petition of concern is presented to the assembly speaker, any motion or amendment will need cross-community support.
In such cases, a vote on proposed legislation will only pass if supported by a weighted majority (60%) of members voting, including at least 40% of each of the nationalist and unionist designations present and voting.
Effectively this means that, provided enough MLAs from a particular community agree, that community can exercise a veto over the assembly's decisions.