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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Water charges 'not ruled out' | Water charges 'not ruled out' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has said it is not in his gift to rule water charges in or out. | |
| His comments come after the Finance Minister Sammy Wilson conceded the Executive will have to re-examine the issue of charges | His comments come after the Finance Minister Sammy Wilson conceded the Executive will have to re-examine the issue of charges |
| Mr Murphy said last April that he wanted a three-year deferral of water charges. | Mr Murphy said last April that he wanted a three-year deferral of water charges. |
| However, Mr Wilson has warned that deferring the charges in 2011 could cost up to £420m. | However, Mr Wilson has warned that deferring the charges in 2011 could cost up to £420m. |
| Mr Wilson warned in a memo to Executive colleagues that spending cuts of £370m were needed in the coming year. | |
| On Wednesday, he said the Executive had to decide whether to continue paying for water through existing budgets or "look at a different way". | On Wednesday, he said the Executive had to decide whether to continue paying for water through existing budgets or "look at a different way". |
| "That's a debate that we have to have," Mr Wilson said. | "That's a debate that we have to have," Mr Wilson said. |
| "To date we have decided - and we've been able to do it - to take it out of existing budgets and we would spend less on something else. | "To date we have decided - and we've been able to do it - to take it out of existing budgets and we would spend less on something else. |
| "All I'm saying to Executive colleagues, is if you decide to continue that way this is the amount of money you're going to have to fund from existing budgets. | "All I'm saying to Executive colleagues, is if you decide to continue that way this is the amount of money you're going to have to fund from existing budgets. |
| Funding | Funding |
| "Or if you want to do it some other way let's have a discussion about that and then it will have to go to the assembly for a final ratification." | "Or if you want to do it some other way let's have a discussion about that and then it will have to go to the assembly for a final ratification." |
| The finance minister also said he believed there was "sufficient fat within the system" which, if it was cut, could mean water charges could be avoided. | The finance minister also said he believed there was "sufficient fat within the system" which, if it was cut, could mean water charges could be avoided. |
| "Whether or not people will make the decisions to reduce the number of departments, reduce all of the equality industry and human rights industry that has grown up around the government in Northern Ireland, is a matter other ministers have to answer," he said. | "Whether or not people will make the decisions to reduce the number of departments, reduce all of the equality industry and human rights industry that has grown up around the government in Northern Ireland, is a matter other ministers have to answer," he said. |
| Mr Murphy said that while the future funding arrangements for water had not been agreed they required "examination". | Mr Murphy said that while the future funding arrangements for water had not been agreed they required "examination". |
| There's been a pass the parcel situation going on at the heart of government between the Department of Finance and the Department of Regional Development. Martina Purdy | |
| He said: "I want to be clear - no decision has been taken by either myself, Sinn Fein or indeed the Executive to introduce household water charges and no work has commenced on a draft bill in relation to this matter as suggested by some media. | He said: "I want to be clear - no decision has been taken by either myself, Sinn Fein or indeed the Executive to introduce household water charges and no work has commenced on a draft bill in relation to this matter as suggested by some media. |
| "This is a collective Executive issue and thus far we have not agreed the future funding arrangements for water and sewerage services. | "This is a collective Executive issue and thus far we have not agreed the future funding arrangements for water and sewerage services. |
| "However, this will require examination of service provision and continued investment in the longer term." | "However, this will require examination of service provision and continued investment in the longer term." |
| BBC political correspondent Martina Purdy said water charges were a matter of when not if. | |
| "From where I'm standing, I think there's been a pass the parcel situation going on at the heart of government between the Department of Finance and the Department of Regional Development. | |
| "No-one wants to put their hand up and say 'yes I'm in favour of water charges," she said. | |
| "That pass the parcel also applies to the four main parties in the Executive. | |
| "Nobody wants to get the blame, especially coming into an election." |