Summary

  • Critical day for Northern Ireland's political institutions as Stormont collapses

  • Election called for 2 March as Sinn Féin refuses to nominate new deputy first minister

  • Economy Minister Simon Hamilton explains plan to cut RHI scheme costs to committee

  • MLAs have say on new legislation to mitigate RHI scheme costs as it goes before assembly

  • Communities Minister Paul Givan's plan to ease impact of bedroom tax approved by MLAs

  1. 'Ministers didn't cover themselves in glory'published at 13:22 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    As might be expected, George Robinson (below) of the DUP backs the minister's regulations, and he says there are "many relieved people that the minster has taken this step".

    George Robinson

    Alliance Party MLA Stewart Dickson says he welcomes the opportunity to mitigate the bedroom tax.

    He says Communities Minister Paul Givan and Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir have not "covered themselves in glory".

  2. MLAs kiss and make-uppublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

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  3. SDLP leader says election is happening..published at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Talkback
    BBC News NI

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  4. Background: Bedroom tax mitigation measurespublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    £10 notes

    There has been much political wrangling at Stormont over the so-called bedroom tax in the past week.

    Under the Fresh Start deal agreed between the main parties and the Westminster government in 2015, the Northern Ireland Executive agreed to fund a policy preventing the implementation of the tax in the region.

    Máirtín Ó Muilleoir and Paul GivanImage source, Press Eye

    But with the tax set to take effect from next month, there was panic because the legislation to allow that to take effect has not been passed by Stormont, with concerns that 34,000 people in receipt of housing benefits could lose an average of £20 a week.

    Last week, the finance and communities ministers (above) disagreed over whether mitigation measures could be implemented.

    But a resolution has been found, and the legislation is being rushed before the house, just before the likely event of the assembly being dissolved this week.

  5. 'Where are executive parties taking us?'published at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt says that "maintaining a tone" in the assembly today that "would be well received by the public" with Stormont on the brink of crumbling is challenging".

    Mike Nesbitt

    He asks what direction the DUP and Sinn Féin are steering Northern Ireland in, given that there is "no budget".

    He adds: "Where are they taking the vulnerable of Northern Ireland?"

  6. TUV leader on Talkback now..published at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Talkback
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  7. Police 'will probe RHI scheme if necessary'published at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    BBC News Northern Ireland

    Police have not yet been called in to investigate allegations of fraud in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal, but will be, if necessary, the economy minister says.

    Simon Hamilton

    Simon Hamilton told the Economy Committee many businesses were earning "super-normal" profits from the RHI scheme.

    He was outlining his plans to cut the cost of it to "essentially zero" for next year, as a Stormont election over the scandal looms.

  8. SDLP leader on Talkback now...published at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Talkback
    BBC News NI

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  9. 'It's likely we won't have devolution after election'published at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    The DUP's Christopher Stalford says he welcomes the regulations.

    "It is wrong that 34,000 people in Northern Ireland should have been facing the very real prospect of the implementation of this tax upon them," he says.

    Christopher Stalford

    The South Belfast MLA says that after an election "it is likely that we won't have devolution".

    "The people of Northern Ireland will be at the mercy of a Tory government," he says.

  10. 'Everything at Stormont is about last-minute rush'published at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Alliance Party leader Naomi Long hits out at Communities Minister Paul Givan, saying the legislation he is bringing before the house should have been sorted long before now.

    "It seems everything in this place has to be subject to last-minute rush, back-of-the-envelope calculations," she tells the assembly.

    Naomi Long

    She says some politicians have been "ramping up tensions" over the bedroom tax, causing unnecessary worry for those in receipt of housing benefit.

    Her party will back the regulations but is doing so with "significant reservations".

  11. PM makes last ditch attempt to solve crisispublished at 13:03 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    BBC News Northern Ireland

    Prime Minister Theresa May has made a last-ditch attempt to get Northern Irish leaders to solve the political impasse.

    Theresa May

    A spokesperson for Mrs May said the prime minister had stressed that political stability would give Northern Ireland a stronger voice in the UK's Brexit preparation.

    "Having clear political stability and ministers in place in Northern Ireland provides a greater opportunity for them to have their voice heard," she added.

  12. Patsy McGlone warns of 'brutal election'published at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Talkback
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  13. 'This political brinkmanship is obscene'published at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Nichola Mallon of the SDLP bemoans the lack of detail over the regulations and the shortage of time in which to debate them.

    "This has been been handled shambolically," she says.

    Nicola Mallon

    The North Belfast MLA says she regrets that the minister used his contribution as "a pre-election pitch".

    The "political brinkmanship" being played regarding the so-called bedroom tax, she adds, "is something that I have found profoundly obscene".

  14. Church of Ireland primate writes to NI leaderspublished at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    BBC News Northern Ireland

    The Church of Ireland primate has written personally to the leaders of the main political parties in Northern Ireland assuring them of his prayers.

    Dr Richard ClarkeImage source, Pacemaker

    Archbishop Richard Clarke called on members of the Church of Ireland to pray for God's guidance for MLAs, and to "seek to say and do only that which is for the common good of all the people of Northern Ireland".

  15. A handshake and a hug for Martin McGuinnesspublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Mark Simpson
    BBC News NI

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  16. 'Scaremongering over bedroom tax will now end'published at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Sinn Féin's Carál Ní Chuilín says she "won't be taking lectures" from Paul Givan on the matter, and tells MLAs she is "quite proud" of her party's stance on welfare reform.

    carálníchuilín

    The regulations that are being proposed will "ensure all that scaremongering" over the past week about the introduction of the so-called bedroom tax in Northern Ireland will end.

  17. UUP MLA expresses views on crisispublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

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  18. Watch: Sinn Féin refuses to nominate deputy first ministerpublished at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Media caption,

    Sinn Féin refuses to nominate deputy first minister

    Here's the moment Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill tells the assembly that her party will not be nominating a new deputy first minister.

  19. Election is inevitable, says Adamspublished at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams says a Stormont assembly election is inevitable.

    Gerry AdamsImage source, RTÉ

    Speaking to journalists in Dublin, he says the way forward is through the institutions but that it has to be on the basis of equality and dealing with people with respect.

  20. 'Vulnerable being used in game of one-upmanship'published at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2017

    Ulster Unionist Andy Allen starts by saying the finance and communities ministers are using the most vulnerable people in society in a game of "one-upmanship".

    Andy Allen

    He insists that the DUP has done "nothing" to help and protect people in housing need.

    The East Belfast MLA tells the assembly that his party is supportive of the proposed legislative change put forward by Paul Givan.