Bryant also criticised the performance of Stormont ministers.
“There is very little financial accountability or responsibility across the whole of the executive,” the NI Secretary said.
“That’s abnormal. There’s no local council anywhere in the UK that doesn’t have to bring in a balanced budget. That’s what the executive is going to have to do.”
He added: “You cannot keep overspending willy-nilly and not expect consequences from that. It’s just irresponsible.”
Bryant can ultimately impose a budget on the executive by legislating through Westminster.
He suggested the absolute deadline for that is the end of January when executive departments would run out of money under the emergency budget rules on which they are currently operating.
