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Welfare reform resolution looking 'increasingly bleak', Villiers says Welfare reform resolution looking 'increasingly bleak', Villiers says
(about 1 hour later)
The Northern Ireland Secretary has said chances for a resolution of the welfare impasse look "increasingly bleak".The Northern Ireland Secretary has said chances for a resolution of the welfare impasse look "increasingly bleak".
Theresa Villiers was speaking after she hosted a meeting about the Stormont House Agreement that included the five executive parties and Irish government.Theresa Villiers was speaking after she hosted a meeting about the Stormont House Agreement that included the five executive parties and Irish government.
She said: "Time is running out. Implementation of [the agreement] is the only way to avert a major crisis."She said: "Time is running out. Implementation of [the agreement] is the only way to avert a major crisis."
She also warned that "the credibility and the future viability of the devolved institutions is now at stake".She also warned that "the credibility and the future viability of the devolved institutions is now at stake".
"The choice rests with Northern Ireland's political leaders," she added."The choice rests with Northern Ireland's political leaders," she added.
Earlier, Sinn Féin said there had been a heated exchange between the deputy first minister and Ms Villiers over welfare reform and the plight of the vulnerable.Earlier, Sinn Féin said there had been a heated exchange between the deputy first minister and Ms Villiers over welfare reform and the plight of the vulnerable.
Sources said Martin McGuinness quoted the latest UK child poverty figures to Ms Villiers during Thursday's talks at Stormont House.Sources said Martin McGuinness quoted the latest UK child poverty figures to Ms Villiers during Thursday's talks at Stormont House.
He then told her to "put that in your pipe and smoke it", they claimed.He then told her to "put that in your pipe and smoke it", they claimed.
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Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said afterwards that Ms Villiers needed to bring "imaginative solutions to the problems her government has created".Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said afterwards that Ms Villiers needed to bring "imaginative solutions to the problems her government has created".
"If Theresa Villiers wants to make a positive contribution to the political process then she needs to end this one-sided approach," Mr Murphy added."If Theresa Villiers wants to make a positive contribution to the political process then she needs to end this one-sided approach," Mr Murphy added.
Simon Hamilton, of the DUP, said progress needed to be made "very quickly".Simon Hamilton, of the DUP, said progress needed to be made "very quickly".
He said Sinn Féin and the SDLP must stick to deals they made as part of the Stormont House Agreement last Christmas.He said Sinn Féin and the SDLP must stick to deals they made as part of the Stormont House Agreement last Christmas.
"Sinn Féin and the SDLP are the ones to blame for the lack of progress," Mr Hamilton said."Sinn Féin and the SDLP are the ones to blame for the lack of progress," Mr Hamilton said.
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt described the meeting as "depressing".Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt described the meeting as "depressing".
He predicted there would be no progress on the deadlock at Stormont until after the chancellor's emergency budget, due on 8 July.He predicted there would be no progress on the deadlock at Stormont until after the chancellor's emergency budget, due on 8 July.
David Ford, the leader of the Alliance Party, has said the meeting had been a "frustrating" one, and questioned the commitment of other parties.
"They are slowly sleepwalking towards the collapse of the public services we were all elected to deliver," he said.
The SDLP leader, Alasdair McDonnell, described the talks as "robust" and at times "brutal".The SDLP leader, Alasdair McDonnell, described the talks as "robust" and at times "brutal".
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On Wednesday, Stormont's new budget bill passed its second stage after a vote in the assembly.On Wednesday, Stormont's new budget bill passed its second stage after a vote in the assembly.
But its final stage is dependent on a deal on welfare reform.But its final stage is dependent on a deal on welfare reform.
But since the striking of the Stormont House Agreement, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Green Party have opposed the plans to implement the changes.But since the striking of the Stormont House Agreement, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Green Party have opposed the plans to implement the changes.
They have argued that the measures will hit the most vulnerable members of society.They have argued that the measures will hit the most vulnerable members of society.
But supporters of the plan have warned that failure to change the benefits system will mean the executive cannot manage its budget, putting the future of the devolved government at risk.But supporters of the plan have warned that failure to change the benefits system will mean the executive cannot manage its budget, putting the future of the devolved government at risk.