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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Evening deadline for DEL axe justice plan | Evening deadline for DEL axe justice plan |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Stormont politicians have until 17:00 GMT on Monday to respond to the proposal that the Department of Employment and Learning be abolished. | Stormont politicians have until 17:00 GMT on Monday to respond to the proposal that the Department of Employment and Learning be abolished. |
| The first and deputy first minister made the suggestion after late night talks last Tuesday. | The first and deputy first minister made the suggestion after late night talks last Tuesday. |
| It is their attempt to resolve disagreements over the future of the sensitive justice portfolio. | It is their attempt to resolve disagreements over the future of the sensitive justice portfolio. |
| The proposal has angered the Alliance Party, which currently holds both ministries. | The proposal has angered the Alliance Party, which currently holds both ministries. |
| But Alliance said it will respond before the teatime deadline. | But Alliance said it will respond before the teatime deadline. |
| Party leader David Ford holds the justice ministry and Stephen Farry is in charge of DEL. | Party leader David Ford holds the justice ministry and Stephen Farry is in charge of DEL. |
| Whilst the party will set out its ideas on streamlining Stormont's departments and make clear its opposition to the DUP-Sinn Fein plan, it will not clarify the key question of whether Mr Ford will once again seek the crucial justice portfolio. | Whilst the party will set out its ideas on streamlining Stormont's departments and make clear its opposition to the DUP-Sinn Fein plan, it will not clarify the key question of whether Mr Ford will once again seek the crucial justice portfolio. |
| On Sunday Peter Robinson told the BBC he regards Mr Ford as his first choice to continue with the justice minister's job. | On Sunday Peter Robinson told the BBC he regards Mr Ford as his first choice to continue with the justice minister's job. |
| But Alliance sources said there is considerable anger about the treatment of Mr Farry and no decision will be taken about justice until the party's 120-strong council has considered its options. | But Alliance sources said there is considerable anger about the treatment of Mr Farry and no decision will be taken about justice until the party's 120-strong council has considered its options. |
| MLAs return to their debating chamber on Monday after their Christmas and new year break. | |
| One of those due to face questions is the Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. | One of those due to face questions is the Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. |
| If the first and deputy first ministers get their way, Mrs Foster will get a greater workload, dividing up Stephen Farry's current responsibilities for universities, further education colleges and job centres with her counterpart at education, John O'Dowd. | |
| Mr Robinson said his party and Sinn Fein have yet to decide exactly how the department's responsibilities will be shared out. | Mr Robinson said his party and Sinn Fein have yet to decide exactly how the department's responsibilities will be shared out. |