The decision by two DUP ministers to resign and be replaced by party colleagues has been described as "asinine" by the North's Deputy First Minister.
Speaking after the weekly meeting of the Northern Executive, Mr Seamus Mallon was sharply critical of the former Regional Development Minister, Mr Peter Robinson, and his colleague, Mr Nigel Dodds, the former Social Development Minister.
The two DUP ministers were replaced at 4 p.m. yesterday by Mr Gregory Campbell and Mr Maurice Morrow.
"We're having an extended meeting this afternoon in the terms of the programme for government. There you have two major departments and where will their ministers be?
They will be in front of you giving you your daily fix of their asinine approach to politics", Mr Mallon said.
The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, insisted that the Executive would ensure public service was protected, irrespective of what the DUP did.
He added: "The DUP is in danger of reducing their departments to the position they were in during direct rule, when a minister came in for a day or two and made decisions."
Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon were optimistic about the future of the peace process. Mr Trimble commented: "I think our worst difficulties are behind us and I think we can work our way through whatever difficulties confront us."