Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson has warned of tough years ahead as up to 25% of Stormont’s funding could be cut by British Prime Minister David Cameron next month.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Mr Robinson said 'you cannot cut out that kind of money without it having an impact'. He also indicated that Northern Ireland ministers will have to take painful decisions.
He sounded his warning as Assembly members prepare to return to work after their summer holidays.
In relation to the DUP's partnership at Stormont with Sinn Féin, Mr Robinson said: ‘it's a very difficult relationship to operate but we have both gone forward in a very mature and business-like way in dealing with the problems that we face.'
He also said he hopes that the DUP and Sinn Féin have provided Northern Ireland with the peace and stability that it needs.
He said the nationalist community has put Sinn Féin forward as their representatives.
‘They are the people we have to deal with and deal with them we will’.
In relation to his own future, Mr Robinson said he intends to lead the DUP into the Assembly elections due in May.
He also signalled that he was not contemplating retiring from politics in the medium term.
He said: ‘Do I look like a man who is ready to retire? I'm at the peak, I'm in good form, fortified by the first break I've had in 12 months, the batteries are charged and I'm ready to go.’
Mr Robinson also confirmed that he expects his wife Iris, who has been receiving medical treatment in Britain, to return to Northern Ireland shortly.
Mrs Robinson was involved in a number of controversies earlier this year when details were made public of her dealings and extra-marital affair with a restuarant owner.
Peter Robinson said ‘I hope that in the course of the Autumn Iris will be able to take her treatment in Northern Ireland and that bit-by-bit she will improve.’
