Anger and frustration as time is running out out on NI's circuit-breaker decision
The Stormont Executive is expected to meet again today (Wednesday) in a bid to break the impasse over a way forward on lockdown.
For a second night, Ministers failed to agree a consensus on what to do when the current circuit-breaker ends at midnight on Thursday.
It is understood the meeting was a lengthy and often bad-tempered one with various opinions being expressed.
The problem for the Executive is that time is running out for a decision.
Legislation will run out when the current four-week restrictions end – and the situation will revert to what it was like on October 16.
The proposal on today’s table is around a partial re-opening of the hospitality sector.
But Ministers are facing growing criticism from businesses who say they have not been given adequate time to prepare.
Their frustration was compounded by yesterday’s revelation from Downtown Radio and Cool FM that £500m - £400m of which was announced last week – of covid support funding from Westminster was still be allocated by the Executive.
Responding to our exclusive story, TUV MLA Jim Allister said he was shocked and called for urgent action.
““First we had the circuit breaker - now what we need is a circus breaker as this delay and dither by the Executive goes on,” he said.
“And yet at the centre in the Executive there sits almost half a billion pounds of money unspent.
“That is a scandal when it comes to the fact that businesses are being kept closed down but are not being given the means to survive.”
It is understood there were angry exchanges at the outset of Tuesday's meeting when the DUP moved to block a proposal from health minister Robin Swann to extend the circuit break measures for two more weeks.
The DUP used a contentious Stormont mechanism - a cross-community vote - to effectively veto the proposal, despite support for the move by a majority of executive parties.
Mr Swann and senior health officials had warned that Covid-19 cases were likely to spike again in mid-December if the fortnight extension was not approved.
Later ministers debated alternative proposals tabled by economy minister Diane Dodds, which included the reopening of cafes and coffee shops, but again a consensus proved elusive.
An anticipated vote on those proposals did not proceed and the meeting concluded after midnight without agreement on a way forward.
Later Ministers will look at Mrs Dodds proposal again which includes a partial re-opening of businesess.
For example, close-contact services such as hairdressers and beauty salons would open again but by appointment only.
In addition, only unlicensed premises such as cafes and restaurants would open at this time.