Unionist tactics on setting up the new executive in the North had created a "sense of drift" in the political process, according to the Sinn Fein Assembly member for North Belfast, Mr Gerry Kelly.
"The attempt by unionists to hollow out those aspects of the Good Friday Agreement which they are opposed to has created inertia in government circles. There is clearly a lack of momentum in moving the situation forward and the October 31st deadline looms nearer.
"Sinn Fein has a right to executive office and nationalists are entitled to places on the all-Ireland Ministerial Council. The British and Irish governments are obliged to defend these rights through the full implementation of the agreement and they should do so speedily to arrest the drift," Mr Kelly said in a statement.