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Justin Welby: Northern Ireland 'should be welfare special case' | Justin Welby: Northern Ireland 'should be welfare special case' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he believes Northern Ireland should be treated as a special case when it comes to the issue of welfare reform. | The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he believes Northern Ireland should be treated as a special case when it comes to the issue of welfare reform. |
Stormont has so far not put in place changes to benefits that have been implemented in other parts of the UK. | Stormont has so far not put in place changes to benefits that have been implemented in other parts of the UK. |
That has led to so-called fines from the government that reflect how much the benefits budget should have fallen. | |
Justin Welby told BBC Radio Ulster there should be extra help to assist people out of poverty. | |
"Should Northern Ireland itself be a special case?" he said. | "Should Northern Ireland itself be a special case?" he said. |
"Yes, it probably should, although not as a basket case or a charity case, but as a recognition of what has gone wrong in the past." | |
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said the government continued to recognise Northern Ireland's special circumstances. | |
"That is why public spending per head is 23% higher here than the UK average," she said. | "That is why public spending per head is 23% higher here than the UK average," she said. |
"When it comes to welfare reform, Northern Ireland has much to gain from replacing a failed system that traps far too many people into dependency with a modern system that ensures work always pays." | |
The Northern Ireland parties had agreed on a welfare reform deal in December but Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March. | The Northern Ireland parties had agreed on a welfare reform deal in December but Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March. |
Inter-party talks in Northern Ireland began in September in a bid to resolve the current political crisis at Stormont. | Inter-party talks in Northern Ireland began in September in a bid to resolve the current political crisis at Stormont. |
The two key issues being discussed are the impasse over welfare reform and paramilitary activity. | The two key issues being discussed are the impasse over welfare reform and paramilitary activity. |
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