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The Codological Executive

• Mark Devenport
• 22 Mar 07, 05:24 PM

So we are now billionaires - thanks to Gordon and Brian chipping in 400 million each and the accountants finding another 200 million down the back of an NIO filing cabinet.

The question now is whether this is good enough for the DUP. They are due to hold a party officers meeting tonight. Then their executive is scheduled for Saturday. The DUP is working on a paper which deals with a bedding down period between next Monday and May. The idea is that the power sharing executive wouldn't meet until then.

Although the government says it's a work in progress, Peter Hain insists there will be no new emergency law. Some government sources believe the power sharing executive should meet as early as Tuesday. The DUP say that's not on.

Given that some senior DUP politicians still have no stomach for power sharing the DUP appear to need this transition. But how real will it be? The Ulster Unionists argue it is all "codology". If devolution occurs, they say, the local ministers will be ministers no matter what, and could be open to legal challenge if they don't perform their duties.

And if the Executive doesn't meet, who will put the water bills off?

From the Hain Assembly to the Transitional Assembly to the Codological Executive. Here we go again....