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The British government has a responsibility to help the North's Executive pay bills left over from the period of direct rule, Martin McGuinness said today.
The Deputy First Minister was among a delegation that met Prime Minister Gordon Brown for talks in Downing Street.
Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) yesterday agreed a deal to end their stand-off at Stormont, but First Minister Peter Robinson said today’s meeting focused on economic difficulties they now face.
The parties want financial backing for the creation of a new Department of Justice, but they said today’s discussions centred on financial pressure over civil service back pay, deferring water charges and other strains on the Stormont budget.
Mr McGuinness said: “We have come here today to talk to the British Prime Minister about the serious financial burdens that have been imposed on the people we represent, most as a result of neglect and under-funding in relation to our water and sewage infrastructure and also the whole issue of unequal pay for civil servants.
“All of these things were the responsibility of British direct rule ministers and we look very much forward to our engagement with Gordon Brown today in the aftermath of what I thought was an encouraging meeting that Peter Robinson and I participated in (with Mr Brown) last week.”
After the meeting the First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Mr McGuinness said the talks had been positive, but declined to comment until they had reported back to their Executive colleagues.
Prior to the discussions with the Prime Minister, Mr Robinson said: “Let’s be clear what it is we are here for today, this is not about funding for policing and justice, that is a process that we will carry through a series of meetings we are setting up.
“Today’s meeting is in relation to the general hardship issues... it is essential for us as an Executive if we are looking at the wider issues of financial hardship that we know exactly where we stand on a whole range of issues.
“And clarification is needed from the Prime Minister today.”
The agreement unveiled yesterday by the DUP and Sinn Féin ends a stand-off over the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster that has blocked meetings of the Assembly Executive since June.
A deadline for devolution has not been agreed but it is estimated that the process both parties have signed-up to will see the powers transferred in less than a year.
