The Ulster Unionist Party has set Saturday, October 28th, for the crucial meeting of its 860-strong ruling council to debate the party's continued participation in government with Sinn Fein.
Delegates will meet at Belfast's Waterfront Hall to consider whether the UUP should withdraw from the Northern Ireland Executive in protest against the lack of progress on paramilitary arms decommissioning and misgivings on policing reforms.
The date is understood to be a compromise between the party's anti-Belfast Agreement faction, who wanted the meeting to take place next Saturday, and agreement supporters aiming to hold it as late as possible in November.
The party leader, Mr David Trimble, said he regretted the meeting had to be held. "It is a shame that so many delegates are going to be dragged back to a council meeting to debate issues that have been debated before." Mr Trimble called on delegates to ensure the meeting would be of a serious nature. At last Saturday's party conference tempers flared as delegates divided into pro and anti-agreement factions. The pro-agreement side was "well capable" of winning the debate, the UUP leader insisted. His main opponent, the Lagan Valley MP, Mr Jeffrey Donald son, said it was important for the meeting to take place. "Nobody should be afraid of this debate. There is a crisis of confidence within the unionist community about the way in which the agreement has been implemented and this needs to be addressed."