Draft legislation linked to the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont were to be discussed by the Northern Ireland Executive today.
The legislation was on the agenda at a meeting of ministers at the power-sharing assembly.
First Minister Peter Robinson had been expected to clear the way for a discussion of the document on 9 July and was criticised at the time by Sinn Féin when the matter was delayed.
Mr Robinson said he wanted to give ministers sufficient time to study the enabling legislation.
The meeting was to mark a further step towards completing the process of transferring the powers from Westminster to Stormont.
The DUP and Sinn Féin leaderships have yet to agree a final date for setting-up a new justice ministry at the Assembly, but there has been speculation that the move could be completed before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, there were reports that the future justice ministry could be based in the Stormont office block where the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 was negotiated.
The devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont edged a step closer on 16 July when British Prime Minister Gordon Brown agreed a process to address outstanding financial issues.
Downing Street, Treasury and Northern Ireland Executive officials are examining all potential funding pressure points over the summer months with the intention of agreeing a monetary package by September.
The process was hammered out during talks between Mr Brown and Mr Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Downing Street.
