SF Welcomes DUP Economic Plan

Just hours after the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Leader, First Minister Peter Robinson launched a series of economic proposals this morning, the Sinn Fein Spokesperson on the Economy has responded positively.

Mitchel McLaughlin (pictured) said: "When Sinn Fein published our proposals a number of weeks ago we called for other parties to put their ideas on the table and sit down as an Executive and plot a way forward.

"It is welcome that the DUP have now published their proposals and I am sure the other parties will soon follow suit.

"As an initial observation on the DUP proposals I would welcome the commitment to continue to oppose water charges, however we would have reservations about the proposal to freeze civil servants pay for those over £21,000 a year.

"In our view it is those at the very top of the civil service pay scale who need to be made to contribute more, not those on low grades."

But, he said that he was looking forward to meeting with the DUP and the other parties as well as the trade unions and other stake holders, to "begin the dual process of resisting the Tory attack on public services while at the same time raising revenue to protect the vulnerable and continue to invest in our economy".

Peter Robinson, who is an East Belfast MLA and the former MP for the area, and who was also NI Finance Minister before becoming First Minister, outlined his plan at a business breakfast this morning.

Speaking to an audience of fellow DUP Ministers and local business leaders he said that there should be a civil service pay freeze for the next two years for anyone earning more than £21,000.

He has also called for the domestic regional rate, frozen in recent years, to go up by the rate of inflation over the next four years.

He also proposed and end to 'one-step progression' under which workers gradually move up their pay scales and the removal of performance bonuses, except for those paid at the most basic level.

With an eye of next year's Assembly elections he also opposed the introduction of water charges

Mr Robinson has also proposed that public bodies like the Port of Belfast should be required to pay a dividend to the Executive as an alternative to other ideas for the asset to be sold off.

Mr Robinson has already proposed that the size of the Government in Northern Ireland is cut back, with the number of MLAs slashed from 108 to 75 and eight departments doing the job of the current 12.

The First Minister is also urging ministerial colleagues to give up 5%-10% of their salaries to set a good example in austere times.

(BMcC/GK)