The pace of the peace process has been stepped up by Dr Mo Mowlam's decision to publish her detailed legislative programme for devolution by March 10th. The move fuelled speculation she might unilaterally convene the new Northern Ireland executive in "shadow" form, but that prospect was immediately rejected in a sharply-worded statement from the Ulster Unionists. "The Ulster Unionist Party resents and will resist any attempt by the Secretary of State to interfere in this issue," it said. The statement said the appointment of an executive was a matter, not for Dr Mowlam, but the parties in the Assembly.
However, the Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said Dr Mowlam "must not be deflected from her charted course by the threats of Unionist spokespersons".
Repeating her view that the "finishing line was now in sight" the Northern Secretary told a news conference at Castle Buildings, Stormont, the legislative programme she was now publishing showed "the mechanics of how we are going to get there".
Outlining "the time-scale for the essential housekeeping issues", Dr Mowlam pointed out that the new government departments had to be created, North-South institutions formally established and arrangements finalised for the British-Irish council, and that the Assembly needed to agree its standing orders.
"To achieve this entails a series of Orders in Council at Westminster, as well as detailed memoranda of understanding with the Irish Government on North-South bodies. The necessary legislation can be introduced in Parliament and the Dail in time to become law in March.
"The six-week delay before Christmas in reaching agreement on these issues has meant that instead of getting all this work done by February as we hoped, it now won't be completed until early March.
"But what this schedule shows is how we and the civil service will deliver the legislative back-up needed to make devolution a reality. We will do everything possible to be ready to act in March when the outstanding differences have been resolved between the parties."
She added that, if everyone was prepared to move a little, as had happened in the past, then progress was possible. "The prize is there to be won and I hope the flexibility needed to achieve it will be shown by all."
The North's Political Development Minister, Mr Paul Murphy, said March 10th was not "a deadline in the way that people have been interpreting it - it's a legislative target by which we think all the necessary preparations will be made". There was a meeting of the Privy Council on that day.
The Assembly is to hear a report next Monday on last month's UUP-SDLP agreement over government departments and North-South bodies. A debate lasting up to three days will take place and there has been speculation that, if the report contained proposals which were approved by the Assembly, the formation of the Executive according to the d'Hondt principles of proportionality would then be automatically triggered.
Asked what her attitude would be, Dr Mowlam said she wanted to "wait and see" what happened in the Assembly.
She wanted to take account of all the parties' views. "I do not intend to act precipitately in the event that there is a determination of the matter next week but equally I would not want to see any undue delay."
Pressed on her powers in relation to convening a meeting of the executive, in shadow or real form, she said: "I don't think at this point that is the kind of question that is constructive because it would be reinterpreted over the weekend."
Mr Peter Robinson of the DUP said Dr Mowlam was "attempting to put pressure on David Trimble indicating that everything is sitting waiting for him and I think that will lead, along with other pressures that have been applied, to a climb-down during the course of next week."
Ms Monica McWilliams of the Women's Coalition said the executive's pledge of office obliged DUP ministers to work the agreement in good faith and there would be a major shift in Sinn Fein's relationship with the IRA if the party had to declare its opposition to the use of force.
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