Union anger that public sector pay rises caught up in the Stormont deadlock
A local Conservative has called on the Secretary of State to start taking decisions in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland. And he says - if Stormont isn't back soon - it's time for James Brokenshire to introduce direct rule. Frank Shivers comments come in the wake of union anger that public sector pay rises are being caught up in the Stormont deadlock. £26m has been found for the Department of Health to cover a 1% pay increase. But the department said ministerial approval is required to implement it. So - the big question is - whose job is it to release the money? And what can civil servants do without a minister in place? Stephen spoke to the legal expert Joshua Rozenberg, BBC NI Economics and Business Editor John Campbell and we took your calls.