The Democratic Unionist Party has said that it believes steps will be taken to remove powers from Northern Executive ministries under its control after the current ministers resign and are replaced by other party members.
Speaking in Stormont, the party's deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson MP, said he believed the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, would concede to what he said were Sinn Fein demands that other ministers take control of the key portfolios of regional development and social affairs.
These ministries are currently held by Mr Robinson and Mr Nigel Dodds MLA but the DUP said yesterday that the "rotation" of ministers would take place this afternoon.
It is expected that Mr Robinson and Mr Dodds will be replaced by Mr Gregory Campbell MLA and Mr Maurice Morrow MLA. However, a Sinn Fein source said that the party would not be looking for the DUP ministers to be stripped of their powers immediately after any ministerial rotation. Yet if the DUP was to continue acting in an unco-operative manner then the Executive should look at "mechanisms" to counter these tactics.
An Ulster Unionist source said the party would have no comment to make until after the expected move by the DUP.
There was a similar response from the Deputy First Minister's office. However, one well-placed source indicated that they did not expect moves to be made to remove power from the DUP in the near future.