Ian Paisley has refused to accept Sinn Féin's nomination of him as First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The DUP leader had been proposed by Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, who also nominated Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister.
The assembly adjourned after a 12-minute sitting.
Earlier, Scotland's First Minister told assembly members how devolution helped his country to tackle the problem of sectarianism.
Jack McConnell said he hoped that a system of devolved government would help both Northern Ireland and Scotland to fulfil their ambitions.
Afterward today's session, Gerry Adams appeared disappointed but not surprised that Ian Paisley turned down the nomination. He said Sinn Féin would return to the issue of forming a power-sharing executive with all speed.
Mr Paisley also sharply rejected a plan first mooted by Sir Reg Empey's Ulster Unionists, for a committee of senior figures from all the main parties to be formed with the purpose of negotiating a return to devolved government.
Despite today's proceedings, there is still a belief among many that the rival parties will find a mechanism for discussing power-sharing before the November deadline looms.
