The Executive has been criticised for attempting to introduce extra taxation into the North by stealth.
Before a debate on an Executive draft budget, a number of members expressed concern about a planned increase in the "regional rate" of 8 per cent.
In the chamber, the Alliance deputy leader, Mr Seamus Close, condemned the increase in the rate as "nebulous and iniquitous". Around u£300 million will come to the budget from the rate, which Mr Close said took "no account of one's ability to pay". The Alliance allegations drew an angry response from several MLAs. Mr Alban Maginness, of the SDLP, said the party was misleading the electorate as it had offered no real alternative proposals while Mr Edwin Poots, of the DUP, asked what Alliance would put in its place.