This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-51100349

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Stormont deal: Unions to consider £30m Stormont pay offer Stormont deal: Unions to consider £30m Stormont pay offer
(32 minutes later)
Health Minister Robin Swann has said that pay parity for Northern Ireland health workers can be restored. Health worker unions have said they will consider the pay offer made by Health Minister Robin Swann after a "very productive" meeting with him on Tuesday.
He told the assembly it would cost an extra £30m that would come from within existing Stormont finances. Mr Swann told the assembly that pay parity for health workers can be restored.
Mr Swann met the unions on Tuesday morning to brief them on the decision and described talks as "constructive". He said it would cost an extra £30m that would come from existing Stormont finances.
Pat Cullen, director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the meeting with Mr Swann was "very productive". Mr Swann said a briefing with the unions had been "constructive".
"The minister has clearly indicated to us that he will issue letters confirming his commitment to safe staffing and pay parity, we are expecting those this evening," she said. However, the unions have expressed concern that the money is not additional funding provided by Westminster.
Ms Cullen said the health minister made it "very clear" he is "totally committed to working with the trade unions". They are expected to respond to the pay offer on Thursday.
Nurses and healthcare workers began industrial action over staffing levels and pay, which does not rise in line with healthcare workers in Scotland, England and Wales.
Pat Cullen, director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said Mr Swann had indicated he will issues letters confirming his commitment to safe staffing and pay parity.
She said the minister made it "very clear" he is "totally committed to working with the trade unions".
"However, as I always say to our members nothing is concluded until I have those formal letters that I can put to them," she added."However, as I always say to our members nothing is concluded until I have those formal letters that I can put to them," she added.
The health unions are expected to respond to Mr Swann's proposals on Thursday. Speaking to the assembly, Mr Swann said it was a "good day after some very difficult days".
Speaking to the assembly, Mr Swann said: "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, Mr said that the money had not been the result of any additional money offered to Northern Ireland by the government. However, Mr Swann 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.
Anne Speed, the health unions' lead negotiator, raised concern over funding for the proposals coming from within existing Stormont finances. Ms Cullen said that was "a surprise" as NI Secretary Julian Smith had indicated "additional money would very much be made available from Westminster".
Ms Speed said Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith had indicated the money would come from Westminster at a meeting last week. Anne Speed, the health unions' lead negotiator, echoed those concerns.
"He told us the money was there, he told us it was new monies, so why shouldn't it be new monies?" she said. "He (Mr Smith) told us the money was there, he told us it was new monies, so why shouldn't it be new monies?" she said.
"Why should the executive have to scrabble around to meet a commitment that he extracted?""Why should the executive have to scrabble around to meet a commitment that he extracted?"
Earlier, 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".Earlier, 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".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. The Northern Ireland Executive met earlier on Tuesday to discuss the government's offer of money to implement the Stormont deal.
The health minister said his officials would work with the unions on the issue of safe staffing levels in the health service. Finance Minister Conor Murphy said that the proposed financial support was "way short" of what was expected.
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.
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.
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.
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 News 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.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 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," she added.
"With strong leadership and collegiate working we will make sure that our public services are transformed." Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said there the transformation would require "a coordinated, sustained approach to bring lasting, positive change".
'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.
"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."
The assembly is also sitting as MLAs appoint the new chairs of Stormont's nine scrutiny committees.