Northern Ireland Secretary criticises Stormont over stalled budget and funding limits
UK Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant accused Stormont ministers of poor financial accountability after the regional budget remains unset, warning that only £525 million is available for this year.
In a televised interview, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant lambasted the Stormont Executive for showing "little financial accountability" as the region still lacks an approved budget for the year. He emphasized that only £525 million has been allocated for this financial year, with an additional £1.5 billion spread over three years offered by the UK government. Bryant urged all ministers to work within these constraints and warned that he could legislate a budget from Westminster if they fail to act.
Finance Minister John O’Dowd acknowledged the need for improvement and highlighted concerns about the executive's spending habits. Bryant also addressed the Drumcree parade ban, rejecting claims that he yielded to violence, and called for a review of the Parades Commission's operations.
