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DUP says no more NI Executive meetings unless 'exceptional circumstances' DUP says no more NI Executive meetings unless 'exceptional circumstances'
(35 minutes later)
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said there will be no further meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive unless in "exceptional circumstances".The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said there will be no further meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive unless in "exceptional circumstances".
First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson made the announcement with party colleagues as the NI assembly was due to return on Monday. First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson made the announcement as the NI assembly returned on Monday.
Mr Robinson said the DUP's ministers would focus on the talks that are due to begin on Tuesday. Mr Robinson said the DUP's ministers would focus on talks to try to resolve the crisis that are due to begin on Tuesday.
Stormont was plunged into crisis after the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr.Stormont was plunged into crisis after the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr.
The police have said they believe IRA members were involved in his murder.The police have said they believe IRA members were involved in his murder.
But they added there is no evidence at this stage that the killing was sanctioned by the organisation.But they added there is no evidence at this stage that the killing was sanctioned by the organisation.
Sinn Féin rejected the police assessment and said the IRA had "gone" and was not "coming back".Sinn Féin rejected the police assessment and said the IRA had "gone" and was not "coming back".
Last week, Downing Street confirmed that "urgent, intensive and focused cross-party talks" would begin in Belfast in an attempt to resolve the crisis at the assembly. However, Mr Robinson said the DUP was not "prepared to continue as if nothing had happened".
Mr Robinson said the DUP was not "prepared to continue as if nothing had happened".
Analysis Chris Page BBC NI political correspondentAnalysis Chris Page BBC NI political correspondent
The DUP announced their decision in Stormont's Great Hall just as the speaker called MLAs to the assembly chamber for the first time this term.The DUP announced their decision in Stormont's Great Hall just as the speaker called MLAs to the assembly chamber for the first time this term.
The assembly will continue to function - but its biggest party have decided to take action at the executive level.The assembly will continue to function - but its biggest party have decided to take action at the executive level.
Stormont ministers will not hold their regular executive meetings, unless the DUP deem there are "exceptional circumstances".Stormont ministers will not hold their regular executive meetings, unless the DUP deem there are "exceptional circumstances".
And if the talks don't lead to a "satisfactory outcome", the DUP say their ministers will resign - triggering an election and then a devolution deep-freeze.And if the talks don't lead to a "satisfactory outcome", the DUP say their ministers will resign - triggering an election and then a devolution deep-freeze.
"A man has been murdered at the hands of those linked to a party of government. This is unacceptable," Mr Robinson said."A man has been murdered at the hands of those linked to a party of government. This is unacceptable," Mr Robinson said.
"For our part we will take steps to ensure that pending a satisfactory resolution of the outstanding issues. Business will not be as usual." Last resort
Mr Robinson said if the DUP was not satisfied that the parties were committed to finding a resolution, they would initiate a further step or further steps. He said if the DUP was not satisfied that the parties were committed to finding a resolution, they would initiate further steps.
He said as a last resort ministerial resignations would follow. The DUP leader said as a last resort ministerial resignations would follow.
Mr Robinson said that any election which followed would not see a return to the present assembly arrangements as the DUP would not nominate a first minister until a "fundamental and more wide ranging negotiation produced a system that could fully function".Mr Robinson said that any election which followed would not see a return to the present assembly arrangements as the DUP would not nominate a first minister until a "fundamental and more wide ranging negotiation produced a system that could fully function".
Following the police assessment about Mr McGuigan's murder, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) announced that it was withdrawing from the executive.
What is the background to the Stormont row?What is the background to the Stormont row?
The talks, which will be held at Stormont House, will be led by Secretary of State Theresa Villiers. In response, Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy said if the DUP chose to resign, there was "nothing we can do about that".
They will cover two issues - securing the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and paramilitary activity. Mandate
The five biggest parties have been asked to take part in the discussions. "We're not going to allow ourselves to become distracted by the electoral contest that's going on within unionism," he said.
On Saturday, Ms Villiers warned that the Westminster government was prepared to legislate on welfare reform in Northern Ireland if Stormont's parties could not agree their own package of changes. "We are mandated to be here to do business.
She said such a move would be a last resort. "It's up to others to explain what effect their actions will have on our ability to deliver collectively for communities."
The NI parties had agreed on a welfare reform deal in December but Sinn Féin withdrew its support in March. Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister criticised the DUP's actions.
"An executive that doesn't work, that doesn't deliver, isn't going to meet - big deal, that's it, that's the big DUP response to murder," he said.
"This is an executive that once didn't meet for six months and nobody noticed."
Following the police assessment about Mr McGuigan's murder, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) announced that it was withdrawing from the executive.