North's new Cabinet to hold first meeting

The North's new power-sharing Cabinet will have its first meeting since the return of devolution today.

Ministers are likely to discuss plans to defer water charges for a year .

Two days after the new devolved government was officially appointed, First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will chair the first round table meeting.

The North's regional development minister Conor Murphy is expected to request the deferment of water charges introduced under direct rule for a year and also press for a review of the financing of water and sewerage services.

The water charges were due to be introduced this year as a result of a major reform programme for water and sewerage services.

A Government-owned company Northern Ireland Water was formed in April to replace the Water Service and under current plans could shed 500 jobs during the next six years.

Mr Murphy wants a new review of the funding of water and sewerage services in a bid to put on hold the job losses and the introduction of water charges.

Ultimately, the future funding of water and sewerage services will be determined by the size of the financial package offered to the Northern Executive by British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

The devolved ministers were also expected today to discuss a legislative programme for the new Assembly and also their programme for Government.

The meeting in Stormont Castle will take place hours after the Democratic Unionist Assembly member George Dawson is buried following his sudden death on the eve of devolution.