The Northern Secretary has warned that if the DUP and Sinn Féin are not in a position to indicate candidates for the posts of First and Deputy First Minister at Stormont on Friday, there will be no point in proceeding with the process set in place by the St Andrews Agreement.
Peter Hain was speaking in the House of Commons in response to a question from the DUP leader, Ian Paisley.
His comments provoked a response from the DUP's Nigel Dodds who said that asking parties to designate candidates on Friday was asking people to jump first before Sinn Féin had moved on policing.
However, Mr Hain said that unless some confidence was breathed into the process on Friday it would not succeed.
The legislation aimed at restoring power-sharing in Northern Ireland is due to be debated in the House of Lords later today.
Friday 24 November is the deadline by which the parties have to nominate - or at least indicate - their candidates for First and Deputy First Minister in the transitional assembly.
Mr Hain confirmed today that he would be directing the parties to convene at Stormont at 10.30am on Friday.
