Tensions within the Northern Executive over the decision by DUP ministers Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds to boycott cabinet meetings because of the presence of Sinn Féin ministers are highlighted in the state papers.
The Executive at its meeting in June 2000 led by first minister David Trimble and deputy first minister Seamus Mallon expressed concern over whether regional development minister Peter Robinson and the social development minister Nigel Dodds would honour the confidentiality of Executive business.
The Executive decided that until it received “satisfactory assurances” from the DUP ministers they would “not receive Executive committee papers as of right”.
At the time future first minister Peter Robinson and Dodds refused to attend Executive meetings because they objected to Sinn Féin ministers Martin McGuinness and Bairbre de Brún sitting in the Executive. They also refused to engage in work related to the North-South Ministerial Council.
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Robinson and Dodds had refused a request from Trimble and Mallon to discuss recent public comments concerning their positions as ministers. They also threatened to change the DUP holders of these ministries regularly.
The Executive in response decided that Trimble and Mallon would represent the Executive on transport matters, which was part of Robinson’s brief, at a forthcoming meeting of the British-Irish Council.
It also decided that Robinson and Dodds would not be nominated to attend meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee.
And to be conversant with what was happening in the regional and social development ministries, it was agreed that Trimble and Mallon would seek appropriate briefings from officials in these departments.
The Executive said it would “consider other action as appropriate” if the “DUP carried out their threat to change the holders of the two ministerial offices”.
Robinson at the time described the sanctions as “high-handed and panic-stricken”, adding that the behaviour of Trimble and Mallon “exudes all the qualities one would expect from immature schoolchildren”.
He in turn instructed his officials not to provide the first minister and deputy first minister with any information without his authority.
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