The sale of Belfast port, the running costs of the North-South bodies, and EU structural funds were among the issues raised by Assembly members as the Minister of Finance, Mr Mark Durkan, took questions yesterday.
Responding to Mr James Leslie (UUP, North Antrim) and Mr Edwin Poots (DUP, Lagan Valley) on North-South structures, the Minister said £500,000 had been set aside for the running of the Ministerial Council. He said the North would contribute £8.2 million annually for the functioning of the North/South implementation bodies, while the South would contribute £25.7 million. The leader of the Alliance party, Mr Sean Neeson, said he was convinced the Assembly should have tax-raising powers. Mr Durkan replied that tax-raising powers might not yield as significant an amount of money as people would imagine.
Mr Billy Hutchinson (PUP, North Belfast) argued against the sale of Belfast port. He said the Minister's report assumed the Assembly had agreed to the sale. Mr Durkan said he was not imposing the sale. "We are dealing with a Budget based on the spending plans that we inherited. Those spending plans were predicated on receipts from the sale - that's the fact of it."
Ms Jane Morrice (Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, North Down) asked what allocations had been made to improve road safety.
Mr Durkan said that while there was no specific allocation for road safety, part of the transport Budget would go towards improving roads, and road safety would also be a part of the new public safety fund, under the remit of the Department of Health.
Mr Joe Byrne (SDLP, West Tyrone) inquired how the economy would be reshaped in the future. Mr Durkan said spending plans would be determined on an inclusive basis involving all four parties in the Executive.