Edwin Poots

“He asked for a response on Friday to enable elections to the new councils to take place in 2011”

“He warned the executive was facing cuts of £1bn and said councils needed to pay their way”

“After the meeting, Environment Minister Edwin Poots said: 'We're coming back to this in two weeks time to make a decision, so there will be considerable pressure upon the Executive to finalise that.'”

“the £100m cost was a problem in itself at a time of cutbacks.”

“Mr Poots said there would be 'options put on the table, from doing nothing to going through to an 11-council model for next year'.”

“Edwin Poots has said the cost of the streamlining process is estimated to be about £118m.”

“the £118m cost to fund the process of cutting councils would mean savings of £438m could be made over 25 years”

“Mr Poots told the assembly last year that the £118m cost to fund the process of cutting councils would mean savings of £438m could be made over 25 years.”

“He said that when he and Donaldson were campaigning to become DUP leader in 2021, a party colleague brought the woman's claims to his attention”