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| Stormont deal: Health minister Swann makes £30m pay offer | Stormont deal: Health minister Swann makes £30m pay offer |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Health Minister Robin Swann has said that pay parity for Northern Ireland health workers can be restored. | |
| He told the assembly it would cost an extra £30m that would come from within existing Stormont finances. | He told the assembly it would cost an extra £30m that would come from within existing Stormont finances. |
| Mr Swann met the unions on Tuesday morning to brief them on the decision and described talks as "constructive". | Mr Swann met the unions on Tuesday morning to brief them on the decision and described talks as "constructive". |
| He told the assembly: "The breakthrough that we all wanted has been achieved - this is a good day after some very difficult days." | He told the assembly: "The breakthrough that we all wanted has been achieved - this is a good day after some very difficult days." |
| The minister said his department had already gathered together £79m to increase pay for health workers and give them the same wage as colleagues in England. | The minister said his department had already gathered together £79m to increase pay for health workers and give them the same wage as colleagues in England. |
| An extra £30m would now be pulled from existing finances at Stormont, he said. | An extra £30m would now be pulled from existing finances at Stormont, he said. |
| However, he said that the money had not been the result of any additional money offered to Northern Ireland by the government. | However, he said that the money had not been the result of any additional money offered to Northern Ireland by the government. |
| He also said that he recognised that a move to pay parity would have implications for the budget in future years. | He also said that he recognised that a move to pay parity would have implications for the budget in future years. |
| Finance Minister Conor Murphy said he recognised the updated pay offer was coming from within existing Stormont finances, but said it was not a case of "robbing peter to pay Paul". | |
| He said as the executive had not yet been able to tie down funding commitments from the British government, they had "dipped into existing finances". | |
| Nurses and other health workers in Northern Ireland have been taking industrial action over pay and staffing levels. | Nurses and other health workers in Northern Ireland have been taking industrial action over pay and staffing levels. |
| The health minister said his officials would work with the unions on the issue of safe staffing levels in the health service. | |
| He hopes a plan can be drawn up to establish such levels "within a reasonable period of time". | |
| This would be a "long-term endeavour," he told the assembly. | This would be a "long-term endeavour," he told the assembly. |
| He said that the unions would meet Department of Health officials on Wednesday to agree on the detail and he hoped for a "swift end" to their industrial action. | He said that the unions would meet Department of Health officials on Wednesday to agree on the detail and he hoped for a "swift end" to their industrial action. |
| "Our nurses and great social care workers can come off the picket-line," Mr Swann said. | "Our nurses and great social care workers can come off the picket-line," Mr Swann said. |
| The Northern Ireland executive met earlier on Tuesday to discuss the government's offer of money to implement the Stormont deal. | The Northern Ireland executive met earlier on Tuesday to discuss the government's offer of money to implement the Stormont deal. |
| Finance Minister Conor Murphy has said that the proposed financial support was "way short" of what was expected. | Finance Minister Conor Murphy has said that the proposed financial support was "way short" of what was expected. |
| He was speaking following a meeting between the Stormont parties and Secretary of State Julian Smith where the financial offer was made. | He was speaking following a meeting between the Stormont parties and Secretary of State Julian Smith where the financial offer was made. |
| BBC NI political correspondent Enda McClafferty said he understood that the financial package was £2bn. | BBC NI political correspondent Enda McClafferty said he understood that the financial package was £2bn. |
| Earlier, the minister for education Peter Weir announced that 18 schools are to benefit from school building improvements worth around £45m in total. | |
| The improvements are the latest to be funded under the school enhancement programme (SEP). | The improvements are the latest to be funded under the school enhancement programme (SEP). |
| It provides for new school buildings worth between £500,000 and £4m. | It provides for new school buildings worth between £500,000 and £4m. |
| But on Monday the new finance minister said the government's proposal did not go far enough. | But on Monday the new finance minister said the government's proposal did not go far enough. |
| "We have to analyse the verbal figures that were given to us tonight by the secretary of state, but my initial read of them is they fall way short and I wouldn't tend to accept that," he said. | "We have to analyse the verbal figures that were given to us tonight by the secretary of state, but my initial read of them is they fall way short and I wouldn't tend to accept that," he said. |
| Earlier, the prime minister said the government had made "huge commitments" as part of the deal. | Earlier, the prime minister said the government had made "huge commitments" as part of the deal. |
| But he did not state how much money would be provided to support the deal, saying it was not about money but leadership. | But he did not state how much money would be provided to support the deal, saying it was not about money but leadership. |
| Speaking after the executive meeting, First Minister Arlene Foster said: "We are energised and resolute in moving forward together for the benefit of all of the people of Northern Ireland. | Speaking after the executive meeting, First Minister Arlene Foster said: "We are energised and resolute in moving forward together for the benefit of all of the people of Northern Ireland. |
| "There are significant challenges ahead of us, but equally we have a real opportunity. | "There are significant challenges ahead of us, but equally we have a real opportunity. |
| "With strong leadership and collegiate working we will make sure that our public services are transformed." | "With strong leadership and collegiate working we will make sure that our public services are transformed." |
| 'Collective will' | 'Collective will' |
| Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "There is a collective will among all parties in the Executive to transform our public services and deliver the improvements that are desperately needed. | Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "There is a collective will among all parties in the Executive to transform our public services and deliver the improvements that are desperately needed. |
| "This won't happen overnight. It will need a coordinated, sustained approach to bring lasting, positive change for all the people of the north. | "This won't happen overnight. It will need a coordinated, sustained approach to bring lasting, positive change for all the people of the north. |
| "Our immediate priorities will include dealing with the issues impacting the most vulnerable. The extension of welfare reform mitigations, a plan to tackle waiting lists and the urgent publication of a Mental Health Action Plan will be among those pressing actions." | "Our immediate priorities will include dealing with the issues impacting the most vulnerable. The extension of welfare reform mitigations, a plan to tackle waiting lists and the urgent publication of a Mental Health Action Plan will be among those pressing actions." |
| The assembly is also sitting as MLAs appoint the new chairs of Stormont's nine scrutiny committees. | The assembly is also sitting as MLAs appoint the new chairs of Stormont's nine scrutiny committees. |