NI budget: DRD minister faces no confidence motion

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-33040382

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The chairman of Stormont's Regional Development Committee has tabled a motion of no confidence in its minister, Danny Kennedy.

Mr Kennedy has said his budget for next year meant he had to save £60m, but this could not be delivered "without impacting on core services".

Chairman of the Regional Development Committee, Trevor Clarke, has expressed concern at how the budget is being managed.

The motion will be debated next week.

Speaking on BBC One's Sunday Politics, the Minister said there was a "more than a whiff of party political politics being played by opponents" on the issue.

"Most of these parties have positions in the executive, positions of leadership that could ease substantially my financial position," he said.

"I am trying to protect frontline services as best possible, but somehow I am being accused of not managing my budget, but my main point is insufficient allocations have been made to my department to protect that budget."