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Ministers demand executive meets Ministers demand executive meets
(about 3 hours later)
Ulster Unionist and SDLP ministers have held a joint news conference demanding That the Northern Ireland Executive meets. Ulster Unionist and SDLP ministers have demanded that the Northern Ireland Executive meets.
Sir Reg Empey, Michael McGimpsey and Margaret Ritchie complained that the deadlock was delaying vital decisions on suicide and fuel poverty. In a joint news conference, Sir Reg Empey, Michael McGimpsey and Margaret Ritchie said vital decisions on suicide and fuel poverty were being delayed.
Talks are ongoing between the DUP and Sinn Féin. Talks are ongoing between the DUP and Sinn Féin to break the deadlock.
The Executive had been scheduled to meet this afternoon, but it looks as if this is not going to happen. The executive was scheduled to meet on Thursday, but informal talks among the DUP, SDLP and UUP have taken place instead.
There may instead be an informal gathering of ministers - the DUP has said it is going to be at Stormont Castle ready to meet and the SDLP and Ulster Unionists have indicated they would attend. First Minister Peter Robinson said the failure to hold a cabinet meeting meant that vital government papers could not be signed off, putting under threat ministerial meetings between ministers from Belfast and Dublin.
But Sir Reg, minister for employment, and Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said this was no substitute for an Executive meeting. Given all the goodwill that was bestowed upon us last year, that is being squandered Sir Reg EmpeyUlster Unionist leader
Michael McGimpsey, the health minister, said it was disgraceful initiatives on suicide and sexual health for young people were being delayed. "Each of us, if there is not an executive meeting taking place, I think will look to urgent procedures because we are not in the business of making people outside suffer," said the first minister.
"Others will have to answer for themselves.
"The executive should be meeting, that is what we are elected to do, that is what we are legally required to do."
Sir Reg and Ms Ritchie said government departments not run by Sinn Féin politicians would now seek to make progress on issues such as fuel poverty.
'Urgent'
Sir Reg said people with worries about the economy were being let down.
"We're in a position of privilege, we're in the position of being given the responsibility to try and provide good government for this region.
"Given all the goodwill that was bestowed upon us last year, that is being squandered."
Ms Ritchie said she hoped to be able to take forward fuel poverty measures with other ministers.
"But this is a short-term issue because people are urgently wanting to know what we can do for them to keep them warm this winter and that is my urgent concern," she said.
"So I am happy to enter into discussions with the minister for finance and the minister for the economy and for health to see what we can do collectively."