Stormont parties meet Secretary of State as Budget impasse continues

Hope has been expressed that a funding gap preventing Stormont ministers being able to agree a budget could potentially be partially closed next week.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson was speaking following a meeting with Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant at Parliament Buildings.

He told media of a “sense of realism” in the meeting.

Mr Robinson said: “It is clear to us – and has been for some time – and I think it is now clear to the Secretary of State that no matter whether this Executive passes a budget, or indeed he steps in and the Government pass it on the Executive’s behalf, the books cannot balance.

“The money available from Treasury today will not allow a balanced budget situation and I think there is a growing realisation that it would be dishonest on the part of the Executive, or indeed the Government, to suggest otherwise.

“So, that realisation is important. I think there is an understanding of the gap and there is an understanding of the constraints both here and in Westminster, but I do think there is an opportunity for us to continue engagement, and also to look towards Wednesday of next week to see whether the gap can be closed sufficiently that would allow the Executive a fighting chance to balance the books.”

He added: “Whilst we are still in different places, and it’s fair to acknowledge that the Secretary of State and us do not agree on the way forward, I have to say the realism that has been injected into the discussions today, and I hope will be a feature of other discussions as well, is a good starting point now from where we can attempt to get to a place that would be of a better import for our public services in Northern Ireland.”

Sinn Féin president Mary-Lou McDonald has maintained that the money on offer from Westminster to run Northern Ireland still “runs far short of what is necessary for decent public services and to meet the very reasonable pay expectations of public servants”.

Speaking after her party’s meeting with Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant, Ms McDonald said they made clear that the UK Government “needs to come up with the right resource to ensure that society and communities don’t suffer”.

“There will be further conversations,” she said, adding that Stormont Finance Minister John O’Dowd who accompanied her had been involved in “months and months of talks”.

“We are clear that we have to land at a decision point and we have made very clear to the Secretary of State that we will work constructively, but there has to be understanding that the right investment has to be made here in the North. They can’t short-change people who live here, we won’t accept or tolerate that.”