A Northern Ireland executive containing six SDLP and four Sinn Fein ministers designate was formed at yesterday's session of the Assembly but immediately collapsed with the North's Assembly now adjourned pending a review of the implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
In accordance with new initial standing orders from the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, which were presented to the Presiding Officer, Lord Alderdice, minutes before the start of yesterday's session, the executive fell because it did not contain a minimum of three unionist ministers.
Five minutes were allotted to Mr David Trimble, the leader of the Ulster Unionists, to make the first nomination of the day but he, along with his 28 Assembly party colleagues, was not present.
Lord Alderdice disregarded the UUP nominating officer and his party after the time period and stated that he would fill the remaining positions on the executive with the parties present.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, the nominating officer for the second-largest party under the d'Hondt formula for the allocations of ministries, nominated Mr Mark Durkan, as minister for finance and personnel. Mr Durkan accepted but was to hold the position for little less than an hour.
A 15-minute suspension of the sitting to consult with DUP colleagues was requested by the Rev Ian Paisley, on his turn to nominate. However, after the recess he refused to allow DUP members be put forward for ministries.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, nominated Ms Bairbre de Brun, as minister for enterprise, trade and investment. Mr Hume proposed Mr Sean Farren for minister for regional development, which was also accepted.
Mr Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein became minister for agriculture and rural development, while Ms Brid Rodgers of the SDLP became minister for higher and further education, training and employment. Under the d'Hondt formula in the absence of the Ulster Unionists, the Alliance party was then asked to nominate a minister. The Alliance leader, Mr Sean Neeson, refused because of the "unforgivable" absence of the UUP and the "outrageous" standing order collapsing the executive if it did not contain three nationalists and three unionists.
The Sinn Fein vice-president, Mr Pat Doherty, was then nominated minister of education. The SDLP's Mr Eddie McGrady refused the nomination of minister for health, social services and public safety. Mr Hume then offered this nomination to Dr Joe Hendron, who accepted.
As the leader of the next largest party at the time of the Assembly elections, Mr Robert McCartney of the anti-agreement UK Unionist Party was requested to nominate but he said that under "no circumstances" would he consider the option.
The final three ministerial positions were filled by the SDLP and Sinn Fein in turn. Mr Denis Haughey of the SDLP became minister for social development, Ms Mary Nelis of Sinn Fein, minister for culture, arts and leisure and Mr Alban Maginness of the SDLP filled the position of minister for the environment.
Lord Alderdice immediately deemed the 10 appointments could not continue as the executive was in contravention of the Northern Secretary's standing orders which outlined that a minimum of three unionist ministers must sit in government.
Earlier in the day, a DUP motion to debate the exclusion of Sinn Fein from the Assembly fell as the party had not the 30 names necessary.