Ulster Unionist Leader Robin Swann MLA, has called on the Secretary of State to press ahead with legislating at Westminster for a budget for Northern Ireland and to disregard opposition from Gerry Adams.

Mr Swann said:

“In recent days, Gerry Adams warned that Sinn Fein will consider this phase of the talks at an end if Westminster passes a budget bill for Northern Ireland. He has also warned that direct rule would be a major breach of the Belfast Agreement, with ‘international implications.’

“This is more nonsense from Gerry Adams. Quite simply he should drop the ludicrous threats. It’s alright for him with free healthcare in the USA when he needs it, but the rest of us want to see our Government ensure a budget is in place for Northern Ireland.

“Sinn Fein often attempt to invoke the Belfast Agreement to give a veneer of respectability to their claims and demands. They need to understand that the Belfast Agreement makes clear its acceptance of the principle of consent and the constitutional position of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom.

“Sinn Fein and their supporters should be thankful that the UK Government does provide almost £10bn annually to Northern Ireland.

“The fact is that Northern Ireland needs a budget. If the Secretary of State took Gerry Adams’ advice and decided not to legislate at Westminster for a budget for Northern Ireland, just how does Gerry Adams think we will pay for public services, public sector wages or benefits?  He would be the first person leading the complaints that the British Government was not fulfilling its obligations and was infringing the rights of local people if thousands of public sector workers were laid off because the local public sector had run out of money.

“As I said yesterday, Sinn Fein should not be allowed to set the political agenda or dictate terms. Bearing in mind that Gerry Adams is elected by the people of Louth to represent them in the Dail, and given the state he left West Belfast in, for the sake of Louth, I suggest he focuses his energies there, and let those of us who want to get on with the job of governing this part of the United Kingdom get on with it.”