Fresh tensions today surrounded plans to devolve policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had agreed a deal on the move, with speculation that the process could be completed in the autumn.
But as the parties edged towards a final resolution of the long-running dispute that once threatened to derail the fledgling government, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) today said the transfer of powers should be delayed for five years.
The UUP issued a report today claiming the Stormont finances were already under great strain and said the Assembly may not be able to take on the additional financial responsibility.
Ulster Unionist David McNarry said: "Any financial package for the transfer of policing and justice powers needs to be rigorously tested for its financial sustainability, risk management and contingency planning against potential shortfalls and it should be rolled out over a five- year period, initially being funded entirely by Westminster.
"Only then, on the basis of the outcomes of this five-year period, should it be fully transferred."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently ordered officials from London and Belfast to complete a financial package to help create a new Ministry of Justice at Stormont.
The Northern Ireland Executive recently passed draft legislation as a further step towards completing devolution.
Divisions between the DUP and Sinn Féin on the issue blocked Executive meetings for five months last year until a compromise deal was negotiated last November. While the deal did not set a deadline for the transfer of powers, there has been speculation it would be completed this autumn.
The UUP proposal to instead phase in the transfer of policing and justice powers over five years came after DUP leader First Minister Peter Robinson said he would require cross-party support at the Assembly before completing the devolution process.
Sinn Féin has called for swift action on devolution of the powers and today dismissed the UUP call. Policing Board member Alex Maskey said the transfer of powers from London was part of the St Andrews agreement that paved the way for the creation of the power-sharing government. "It is not an optional extra. It is a British government obligation," he said.
PA