British Prime Minister Tony Blair's chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, has become involved in the preparations for tomorrow's scheduled meeting of Northern Ireland's Assembly.
The DUP and Sinn Féin are due to nominate their choices for First and Deputy First Ministers at the meeting.
Mr Powell is now working behind the scenes to ensure some form of ceremony happens at Stormont tomorrow.
This morning a minister in the Free Presbyterian Church suggested the notion of DUP leader Ian Paisley in coalition with Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness was heartbreaking for most church members.
The comments by the Reverend Ivan Foster suggest that Mr Paisley is having difficulties with some of his supporters.
In recent days the DUP has concentrated its criticism on Sinn Féin's policy on policing.
But clearly Mr Paisley is having problems with a faction of his supporters who oppose the notion of power-sharing.
The Ulster Unionist leader, Sir Reg Empey, said this afternoon that Mr Paisley is getting his comeuppance for his behaviour over the years.
