Trimble to request details from two DUP Ministers on boycotting strategy

The North's First Minister, David Trimble, is to write to the two DUP ministers who are boycotting executive meetings, Peter Robinson and Nigel, seeking details of their future intentions. Mr Trimble said it was clear that more effective action would have to be taken against the DUP campaign aimed at disrupting the work of the North's administration. Mr Trimble said he was determined to protect the integrity of government. He was speaking after the first meeting of the re-instated Executive. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's Deputy Minister, Seamus Mallon, said he would not allow roulette to be played with the administration.

Speaking this afternoon, the North's Minister for Education Martin McGuinness criticised the Democratic Unionist Party for its boycott of a meeting of the power-sharing executive at Stormont. Mr McGuinness said the boycott was a great disservice to the people they represented.

This morning DUP deputy leader, Mr Robinson, denied that his party was attempting to disrupt the work of the Northern Ireland Executive by rotating its ministers. As Minister for Regional Development, Mr Robinson is in charge of one of the most wide-ranging portfolios in the Executive, but will not attend cabinet meetings. He said he will resign his seat if Unionists fail to back a motion to exclude Sinn Féin which his party will table in a fortnight. Today, he defended his stance and rejected suggestions that his department might suffer if he was not at the cabinet table arguing for funds. He said he could not believe that other ministers would be so small-minded as to punish his department and the people of Northern Ireland because they wanted to 'get at' Peter Robinson.

The executive, meanwhile, failed to agree over flags. There was no consensus on a compromise from Sinn Fein Ministers, Martin McGuinness and Bairbre de Brun, to fly both the Union flag and the Irish tricolour. Unionists want only the Union flag to fly over the north's government buildings tomorrow, the anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth.