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Sinn Féin giving 'conditional support' to budget bill, McGuinness says Sinn Féin giving 'conditional support' to budget bill, McGuinness says
(35 minutes later)
Martin McGuinness has said Sinn Féin will be backing Finance Minister Arlene Foster's new budget bill. Martin McGuinness has said Sinn Féin wil conditionally back Finance Minister Arlene Foster's new budget bill.
He said: "In the context of the present situation in relation to the budget, we will be giving conditional support to this budget bill."He said: "In the context of the present situation in relation to the budget, we will be giving conditional support to this budget bill."
The move would "create space which hopefully will see a resolution" on the dispute over welfare reform, he added. The move would "create space which hopefully will see a resolution" of issues threatening the future of the assembly and the executive, he added.
Mr McGuinness was speaking ahead of Monday's assembly debate and vote on the Budget Number 2 Bill. The second stage of Mrs Foster's bill will be voted on by MLAs on Monday.
The bill has been described as a fantasy budget as it was drawn up on the basis that welfare reform - which Sinn Féin and the SDLP have opposed - has already been agreed. The Budget Number 2 Bill has been described as a fantasy budget as it was drawn up on the basis that welfare reform - which Sinn Féin and the SDLP have opposed - has already been agreed.
Crisis
Last week, the Stormont finance committee granted accelerated passage to the bill.Last week, the Stormont finance committee granted accelerated passage to the bill.
That would allow it to become law by the end of July.That would allow it to become law by the end of July.
Sinn Féin's backing for the bill means the executive will get more time to discuss the welfare reform crisis, at least until the autumn. The SDLP say they will oppose the budget, but the measure will pass with the backing of the DUP and Sinn Féin.
The passing of the budget will avert a short-term financial crisis and means a senior civil servant will not have to administer an emergency budget.
More discussions are expected on resolving the parties' outstanding differences over welfare reform and the Stormont House Agreement.