NI Assembly passes third budget despite Unionist opposition

Despite hardline Unionists failing to back the 2003/4 budget, the Northern Ireland Assembly passed the budget with a two-thirds majority on Tuesday.

DUP assembly members were incensed when they failed to get north-south components in the budget reduced.

The cross-community voting system required that the budget achieved 60 per cent backing overall and 40 per cent support from unionists and nationalists.

Finance Minister Mark Durkan (SDLP) had earlier attacked the DUP for what he said was “gross hypocrisy” for attempting to remove funding for the cross-border bodies set up under the Good Friday Agreement. An amendment tabled by Maurice Morrow of the DUP, calling for the funds allocated to the cross-border institutions to be redirected into a scheme providing home heating for the needy, was denounced by Mr Durkan who said that these proposals had not been put forward earlier in the year when the budget was being drawn up.

The Finance Minister pointed out that withdrawal of the cross-border funds would have severely damaged the EU Special Programme Fund that supports deprived communities and stifled cross-border business.

However, Mr Morrow said that the issue was important as around 170,000 homes were fuel impoverished and this he claimed caused 600 deaths a year. (SP)