EXECUTIVE ministers have for the second night in a row failed to agree fresh coronavirus restrictions for Northern Ireland amid fraying relations at the top of the powersharing administration.
It is understood ministers were debating proposals by Economy Minister Diane Dodds which would allow some of the hospitality sector to re-open from Friday.
Read More: NI circuit-breaker may have cost the economy £400 million, minister claims
But there were angry exchanges among ministers after the DUP moved to block a proposal to extend the full restrictions for a further two weeks.
Health Minister Robin Swann had tabled a recommendation to extend the circuit-break measures in their entirety after warning of another spike in cases by mid-December if the move was not taken.
But a call from DUP Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots for the proposal to be decided using the cross-community voting mechanism - effectively handing his party a veto - provoked heated responses from other parties during last night's discussions.
After Mr Swann's paper was voted down, ministers debated alternative proposals tabled by Mrs Dodds, who is understood to have recommended a partial reopening of the hospitality sector.
Last night's lengthy and at times acrimonious discussions came after a series of Executive meetings were held on Monday without any breakthrough. The current four-week circuit-break measures are due to expire at midnight tomorrow.
With it clear a consensus on the proposals would not be reached, ministers did not vote on the measures on Tuesday night, instead choosing to end the meeting shortly after 12.30am.
They are due to return to discussions on Mrs Dodds’ proposals later on Wednesday.
First Minister Arlene Foster said Sinn Fein had questions to answer about an apparent change of heart.
She told BBC Good Morning Ulster: "Despite the fact there has been no change in the medical advice, none whatsoever - as to why they now are in a situation that they are saying let's keep haridressers and beauticians closed, let us keep coffee shops on our high streets closed. In the knowledge there will be no change in two weeks' time and we will be in the same position."
Among the proposals from Mrs Dodds was the re-opening of close contact services, such as hair and beauty salons, on Friday, by appointment.
Waiting until days before the end of the circuit break to thrash out details is what’s angering people more than lockdown itself, families need to be able to put food on the table for their children at Christmas, they need to know if there’s a wage coming in or not
— Allison Morris (@AllisonMorris1) November 11, 2020
Her paper also suggested hospitality could re-open in a "graduated and controlled manner" with unlicensed premises such as cafes and coffee shops able to open from Friday.
But licensed restaurants would remain shut until November 27.
It is also understood ministers were considering allowing hotels to serve food and drink to residents only, but no date was suggested. Pubs and bars could also be able to offer sealed off-sales from November 13.
There were also suggestions that a "safely open" group, involving the hospitality sector and Executive, be established.
A senior party source accused Sinn Fein of “somersaulting” on an apparent pledge to endorse the reopening of cafes and restaurants.
The source claimed Sinn Fein agreed that position at the weekend, pointing to a Sunday media interview in which deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the executive was looking at ways of “opening things up perhaps without alcohol”.
The source further claimed Sinn Fein changed position on the instruction of its Dublin powerbase.
The claims were robustly rejected by Sinn Féin, with the party insisting it was acting in line with medical and scientific advice.
A senior Sinn Féin source said: “We always said any movement had to be based on medical advice”.
