The Stormont Executive meets today amid the fallout from Tuesday's controversial announcement that Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie has cut £1.2 million (€1.7 million) in funding for a UDA-linked conflict transformation initiative.
The DUP could censure Ms Ritchie following sharp criticism of her by Minister for Finance Peter Robinson.
Ms Ritchie says her legal advice on the issue was circulated to First Minister Ian Paisley, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and to Mr Robinson.
Questioned during a visit to Coleraine, Co Derry, she said DUP minister had "failed to recognise this issue or failed to want to address this issue when I originally brought it to the Executive table...I will not be bullied by Peter Robinson. I took a pledge of office to serve the people of Northern Ireland."
Ulster Unionist Ministers will not support a DUP motion of censure against Ms Ritchie, a party spokesman said yesterday. He added that they supported Ms Ritchie's stand and that there was a feeling the DUP had "overplayed" its opposition to her.
Support for censure from republicans is also unlikely. A Sinn Féin spokesman told The Irish Times last night: "Sinn Féin supports her decision."
Today's Executive meeting will be dominated by discussion of next week's Budget, but the funding decision may come under any other business. It is understood the legal advice that led to the decision to cut the funding will be forwarded to members of the Assembly committee, which scrutinises her department, at its next meeting.