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Minister angry over flu funding Minister angry over flu funding
(19 minutes later)
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has criticised the refusal of the finance minister to provide him with the £55m he says he needs to tackle swine flu.Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has criticised the refusal of the finance minister to provide him with the £55m he says he needs to tackle swine flu.
Mr McGimpsey was speaking as the new finance minister, Sammy Wilson, unveiled his plans to allocate an extra £235m.Mr McGimpsey was speaking as the new finance minister, Sammy Wilson, unveiled his plans to allocate an extra £235m.
Most of the money is going to pay for deferred water charges, while £20m is going to Housing Executive renovations.Most of the money is going to pay for deferred water charges, while £20m is going to Housing Executive renovations.
Mr Wilson said the Executive was trying to use the money imaginatively.Mr Wilson said the Executive was trying to use the money imaginatively.
However, Michael McGimpsey was not impressed given what he said was the urgency of his case in battling swine flu.However, Michael McGimpsey was not impressed given what he said was the urgency of his case in battling swine flu.
"I'm deeply disappointed," he said. "We have a pandemic flu worldwide - the biggest health challenge the world has faced for many years."I'm deeply disappointed," he said. "We have a pandemic flu worldwide - the biggest health challenge the world has faced for many years.
"Yet we in Northern Ireland, alone of all the governments in the British Isles, appear to be sailing on willy-nilly.""Yet we in Northern Ireland, alone of all the governments in the British Isles, appear to be sailing on willy-nilly."
An assembly source told the BBC the Department of Finance was still negotiating with the Treasury on funding for swine flu. Mr Wilson accused the health minister of undermining his negotiations with the Treasury on the issue.
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie welcomed her department's allocation, which she said would safeguard 800 jobs in the building trade. He said he was treating swine flu as a national emergency and, along with other regional ministers, was seeking help.
He accused Mr McGimpsey of headline grabbing tactics.
Meanwhile, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie welcomed her department's allocation, which she said would safeguard 800 jobs in the building trade.