Historical Abuse Inquiry Could Be Axed Because of Spending Row at Stormont, Says Peter Robinson

By Liam Clarke
Belfast Telegraph
July 19, 2014

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/historical-abuse-inquiry-could-be-axed-because-of-spending-row-at-stormont-says-peter-robinson-30443404.html

Peter Robinson

A state inquiry into historic institutional abuse in Northern Ireland is under threat because of a stand-off at Stormont over spending, the First Minister has warned.

Peter Robinson said there would be "catastrophic" consequences if he and Martin McGuinness cannot agree a series of emergency cuts early next week.

They are needed because our budget has been reduced by London to reflect the fact that we are now overspending on welfare payments compared to England and Wales.

Things came to a head in the June monitoring round, a review of budgets in which cuts must be made in spending budgets. Some ?80m in capital spending must also be allocated or else handed back to the treasury.

The historical abuse inquiry is examining allegations of abuse in care homes between 1922 and 1995. The DUP claims the ongoing row about how the Executive should spend its money has placed a question mark over the probe, and has blamed Sinn Fein for the impasse. Mr Robinson said: "I am meeting with Martin McGuinness in the early part of the week to see if we can reach some conclusions on those issues."

The First Minister said that if he could reach agreement with Mr McGuinness the Executive should be called together for a meeting.

"I don't think we can take decisions dealing with hundreds of millions of pounds and not bring ministers together to discuss it."

He added: "I actually go further. I believe that if the Executive reach agreement we should call the Assembly back to discuss it because I think that members have a right to question the Finance Minister on those issues as well."

He warned: "There will be a number of catastrophic consequences if the monitoring round is not cleared. Sinn Fein not only refuses to take any decision in relation to welfare reform but they don't want to take any decision to deal with the penalties for not taking a decision.

"That is not doable in governmental terms. You can't spend money that is no longer there. We are already being penalised – money has been deducted from our budget and will continue to be deducted unless this issue dealt with. Unfortunately we can't continue spending money that has already been taken from us."