The Northern Assembly is expected to debate a DUP motion today to exclude Sinn Fein ministers from the Executive. The DUP last night said it had received the necessary 30 signatures to have its motion discussed.
Pro-agreement unionists have dismissed the proposal as a stunt. The DUP said all the anti-agreement unionist parties in the Assembly supported debating the motion, plus two dissident UUP members, Mr Peter Weir and Ms Pauline Armitage.
The motion condemns the Provisional IRA's refusal to hand over its weapons for destruction and says the paramilitary group is still involved in violence. It claims Sinn Fein is inextricably linked to the IRA and is not fit to hold ministerial office.
The motion is likely to fail as it has no chance of getting the necessary cross-community support in the Assembly.
Mr Ian Paisley jnr said: "It will be up to the SDLP to decide if terrorists are going to remain in government." Many UUP members are expected to abstain or be absent for the debate. Mr Paisley jnr said that if this happened, they would pay the price at the next election.
Meanwhile, the SDLP Finance Minister, Mr Mark Durkan, announced the allocation of a further £63 million across the 10 departments which has become available from savings in the budget.
A total of £11.9 million has been allocated to the Department of Health to pay for costs incurred by the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, for children's services, and for revenue and electronic prescriptions.
Another £10.9 million has been granted to the Department of Regional Development for operating costs in the water service, concession fares and fuel duty rebate in transport.
The Department of Agriculture will receive £9.5 million for animal disease compensation and the timber industry. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment secured £9.4 million.
A total of £8.3 million has been granted to the Department of Education to spend on voluntary schools, the pre-school initiative, and accommodation for children in care and voluntary youth centres.
Another £5.2 million is going to the Department of Social Development; £4.2 million to the Department of Finance and Personnel; £1.5 million for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure; and £500,000 for the Department of the Environment.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein Health Minister, Ms Bairbre de Brun, announced plans to spend £60 million. A total of £53 million has been made available by the British exchequer; £5 million from the Executive's Agenda for Government Modernisation Fund; and £2 million from savings in the Executive budget.
Ms de Brun said the financial package proved the new Executive was trying to "bring real improvements to people across all communities and from all backgrounds". The money will be spent on a range of areas including reducing hospital waiting lists and improving cancer services, children's services and community care for the elderly.
The North/South Ministerial Council held its second sectoral meeting on education yesterday in Cultra, Co Down. The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, and the North's Minister of Education, Mr Martin McGuinness, said the meeting had been extremely positive. They said the council had an important part to play in developing cross-Border co-operation in education. Progress could be made on a range of issues such as education under-achievement in terms of pupil attendance, literacy and numeracy.
Meanwhile, Mr McGuinness welcomed the Parades Commission's decision to ban the Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road on Sunday. He said dialogue must take place between the order and residents.