Iris Robinson also accused him of "lacking the bottle to make decisions".

She launched the attack after the UUP minister said because of cuts in his budget people in NI were far worse off in health care than the rest of the UK.

Amid fiery exchanges, he said he had only agreed the draft budget as a basis for consultation.

Mr McGimpsey said he took exception to Mrs Robinson's accusations.

He said there was a period of consultation currently being undertaken.

"We have local democracy at work now and this is what we are about," he told BBC News.

"There is a need here - our need is greater than that in England and our actual funding is less in terms of our provision."