DUP ministers challenge sanctions

DUP ministers object to executive sanctions

Two Democratic Unionist Party ministers on Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive have challenged the legality of a decision to withhold cabinet papers from them.

The executive decided not to provide social development minister Nigel Dodds and the minister for regional development, Peter Robinson, with the confidential papers following a meeting on Thursday.

The anti-agreement DUP ministers claimed the move was illegal and have since taken legal advice which, they say, confirms this position.

The decision to withhold the papers was defended by fellow ministers who cited the DUP intention to disrupt power-sharing by rotating the ministries between the party's assembly members.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the DUP ministers said their legal advice indicated the executive did not have the legal power to withhold the committee papers.

First Minister David Trimble: Legality of decision challenged

Mr Robinson said he and Mr Dodds were also objecting to the decision that First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon would represent them at meetings with their counterparts at national level and in Scotland and Wales.

"He claimed that he and Mr Mallon would make arrangements with our departments to be briefed on relevant matters," said the regional development minister.

"The import of his statement was to convey the impression that he could and would conduct certain business over our heads and behind our backs.

"Since then Nigel and I have taken legal advice - as, I understand, have departmental offices - the clear and firm conclusions show that the FM and DFM proposals are ultra vires."

Mr Robinson confirmed that he and Mr Dodds had instructed their officials not to provide the First Minister or the Deputy First Minister with departmental papers without their prior approval.