Executive 'Silo' Will Worsen Cut Backs

Behavioural changes are needed at the heart of Northern Ireland government to combat the likely cut in public expenditure, the First Minister has said.

Speaking at a bankers' gathering last night, Peter Robinson said the Executive should prepare itself for budgetary reductions. The DUP Leader, (pictured) said the system at the crux of the Assembly's power had to change, suggesting some ministers remain party faithful, rather than acting on wider needs.

Mr Robinson claimed there was a management "silo" within some departments.

"We have party identification with departments and all of that means that there's a virility test for ministers to ensure that their department does best and they hold on to their money," he said.

"It's hard to get collective decisions through the Executive."

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson earlier said the NI Executive should expect a fall in block funding from Westminster following the next general election.

This week, Tory Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said his party would freeze civil service pay should they win a Commons majority.

Mr Wilson said this would directly effect the block grant given to Northern Ireland to executive its devolved powers.

"Now we are free to spend the block grant in whatever way we wish, but to get that amount of money [freeze on public sector pay] taken out of it would then mean you have to get it from somewhere else."

The boss of Northern Ireland's public sector union, NIPSA, said such a move would not be well received.

John Corey said: "There is a real risk of a serious dispute situation if that happens.

"The public sector is not some organisation that is separate from the rest of the society.

"It's not right therefore that the government or the executive should then say that we will hit the rest of that family by attacking the wages of public servants."

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(PR/BMcC)