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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sinn Féin giving 'conditional support' to budget bill, McGuinness says | Sinn Féin giving 'conditional support' to budget bill, McGuinness says |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Martin McGuinness has said Sinn Féin wil conditionally back 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" of issues threatening the future of the assembly and the executive, 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. |
| The second stage of Mrs Foster's bill will be voted on by MLAs on Monday. | The second stage of Mrs Foster's bill will be voted on by MLAs on Monday. |
| 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. | 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 | 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. |
| The SDLP said they cannot support the budget bill "in its present form" but would not vote against it. | |
| "The SDLP remains committed to negotiating on the issues within this budget and on welfare reform specifically, however we believe that this needs to be a mature negotiation which is not bound by side room deals or short term party political tactics," party leader Alasdair McDonnell said. | |
| The bill 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. | 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. | More discussions are expected on resolving the parties' outstanding differences over welfare reform and the Stormont House Agreement. |