Northern Ireland welfare reform bill fails

Tue,26 May 2015
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Northern Ireland's Welfare Reform Bill has failed to pass following the issuing of a petition of concern by the Sinn Féin and Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)

The NI Welfare Reform Bill is intended introduce changes to the benefits system, which match those being introduced in the rest of the UK under the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

A majority of 58 assembly members voted in favour of the Bill and 39 against but the Sinn Féin and SDLP effectively blocked its passage by signing a petition of concern, with the Green Party.

Petitions of concern are a means of safeguarding minority rights in Stormont's power-sharing assembly. Once issued to the assembly speaker, any motion or amendment will need cross-community support of a weighted majority of 60% with at least 40% of each of the nationalist and unionist designations present and voting. If cross-community support is not obtained a motion can be vetoed, even if it has a majority in favour.

Last December, all parties had agreed a deal on welfare reform measures which would have lessened some of the effects of the Bill compared to the 2012 Act but Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) now wants the government to take back welfare powers, but Sinn Féin said such a move would be unacceptable.

Find out more on the BBC website

View official report of the debate