There is one Ulster Unionist minister still in office in Northern Ireland, it emerged tonight.
Mr Dermot Nesbitt, a junior minister in the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers, was not among the departmental ministers whose resignations were lodged by Mr David Trimble.
Mr Nesbitt confirmed: "The situation is that I am still in office. Therefore I can perform functions but I cannot take any decisions."
Mr Nesbitt who, like his SDLP junior minister counterpart Mr Denis Haughey, does not take part in Executive meetings, added: "It is quite unique but it cannot be sustained long-term."
After the withdrawal of the three Ulster Unionist ministers, and the two from the Democratic Unionists who followed suit, half of the government in Northern Ireland is effectively leaderless.
Five of the 10 departments are without ministers - only the three headed by the SDLP and two run by Sinn Fein's Mr Martin McGuinness and Ms Bairbre de Brun will have their boss at his or her desk on Monday morning.
PA