Sinn Féin councillors across Fermanagh hosted a day of action last Saturday, asking locals to sign a petition in opposition to 'Tory cuts'.

Northern Ireland faces costly penalties for not endorsing welfare reforms that were passed by Westminster in February 2013. The controversial Welfare Reform Bill is currently stalled at Stormont.

Sinn Féin opposes welfare reform in Northern Ireland, stating that the UK Government is “attacking the most vulnerable members of society.” The DUP says that Sinn Féin is stalling because it cannot be seen to oppose austerity in the Republic of Ireland while implementing it in Northern Ireland.

This week, Finance Minister Simon Hamilton described not implementing welfare changes as the biggest problem the executive faces. He warned that, because of the closing down of the welfare system in the rest of the UK, Northern Ireland may have to develop its own IT system which would cost £1 billion a year.

Local councillors set up stalls in Enniskillen, Lisnaskea and Irvinestown at the weekend, with Enniskillen Councillor Debbie Coyle stating: “I am totally opposed to the cuts. They are designed to attack the working class, the disabled, the unemployed and women.” Local Councillors are urging people to continue to sign the petition in a bid to influence Sinn Féin's campaign to stop the welfare cuts.

Meanwhile, a Sinn Féin motion opposing the "Tory cuts agenda” was not passed by the Assembly on Tuesday.

Alex Maskey told the Assembly that “Sinn Fein's battle on this matter is not with the DUP or, indeed, any other party in this House but with the Tory millionaires in Westminster.” He added: “We have been ... badgered, to support the Westminster-proposed Welfare Reform Bill, but, put quite simply, this is not reform but a pretext for cuts and, if those cuts are imposed, even more families will be driven into poverty. We in sinn fein say we have a choice.” Sammy Wilson responded: “This is not a motion defending the poor … Let us be clear what this is about: it is about saving Sinn Féin's blushes in the Republic, and the poor people who need public services in Northern Ireland are going to pay.” A DUP ammendment (which was not passed) outlined that the UK Government has agreed to “the retention of the social fund, the escape from the changes in housing benefit, the help for people who would have lost money had housing benefit been removed from the rates, and help for people who have to get doctors' reports and go through assessments for their disability payments."