STEVEN McCAFFERY The Northern Ireland government is unlikely to meet again until the autumn as a result of a stand-off between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein.

STEVEN McCAFFERY

The Northern Ireland government is unlikely to meet again until the autumn as a result of a stand-off between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein.

Critics hit out at the parties after confirmation that an executive meeting set for Thursday was cancelled at short notice, with no further meetings scheduled for the rest of the summer.

Opposition parties blamed the delay on divisions between the two biggest parties.

The Ulster Unionists and the nationalist SDLP who also have seats on the Assembly's ruling Executive accused Sinn Fein of exercising a veto on Cabinet meetings until the DUP moves on key issues.

The DUP and Sinn Fein, who are deadlocked over issues including the transfer of policing powers and an Irish language act, denied there was a crisis.

SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said: "I am gravely concerned to learn that the Executive meeting planned for Thursday has been shelved and no date has been set for another one.

"This means the Executive will not have met for more than a month while important issues remain on the long finger.

"As the DUP and Sinn Fein squabble, people in Northern Ireland are suffering from a crunch in the economy."

Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Sir Reg Empey, said: "The executive has not met in over a month and will not do so for a further two months, how is this delivering for the people of Northern Ireland?

"A large amount of non-contentious issues are sitting there because Sinn Fein are effectively using their veto.

"This is all connected to the devolution of policing and justice. It is a thing people in Northern Ireland don't want at the moment and we are being held to ransom by Sinn Fein on this."

Sinn Fein has said the transfer of policing powers was promised in the St Andrew's Agreement that paved the way for the power-sharing government, but the DUP has blocked the move until more is known of how any new justice ministry would work.

A Sinn Fein spokesman accused the SDLP of failing to resist unionist intransigence and said: "Sinn Fein make no apology for demanding people's basic rights and entitlements."

Republicans said Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness was ready for talks to resolve the dispute.

DUP Junior Minister Jeffrey Donaldson said: "We would refute entirely that the business of government is not being done."