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Assembly to meet over downturn Assembly to meet over downturn
(about 2 hours later)
The Executive will meet on Monday to finalise measures intended to help those suffering as a result of the economic downturn. Stormont ministers are to finalise a series of measures to help people affected by the economic downturn.
The Assembly is holding a special session to debate the Executive's decisions. Finance Minister Nigel Dodds is to make a significant statement to the assembly, sources have predicted.
At the weekend, the social development minister said there had been "difficult scenes" during recent talks on her proposals for tackling fuel poverty. It is believed beneficiaries could include farmers whose crops were damaged by flooding and people looking for grants for slurry tanks.
But Margaret Ritchie said she would not be "bullied" by other ministers. The assembly is to hold a special session to debate any decisions made by the executive.
"The SDLP is committed to doing a job in government," she told Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme. At the weekend, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said there had been "difficult scenes" during recent talks on her proposals for tackling fuel poverty.
"And we're also committed to doing a job on the floor of the assembly - holding the executive to account. BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said there would be considerable interest in how the package deals both with fuel poverty and her other responsibility, affordable housing.
"But if there comes a time when executive colleagues and others deliberately stop me from delivering, then that will give my party an opportunity, and myself, to consider our role in government, but at this particular point we haven't reached that point - we're still in government."