The North's Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, has said there are differences between his office and Mr David Trimble's on a resolution to be put to the Assembly next week.
Mr Mallon wants a motion calling on the Assembly to endorse the report detailing the SDLP and Ulster Unionist Party pact, reached in December, on setting up government departments and North-South bodies. "There's no row, holy or unholy, but there is a difference of opinion."
He was not surprised by Dr Mo Mowlam's published legislative timetable, which gives March 10th as a target date for the legislation necessary to devolve power.
A UUP Assembly member, Mr Michael McGimpsey, said there was no definitive package to put to the Assembly. He was confident that when the final details on government departments were reached, proposals could be introduced by early March.
On decommissioning, he said Sinn Fein must choose between a policy of "self-exclusion" or "coming with us". The crunch on decommissioning would come at the end of March but "decommissioning is inevitable and will happen before the summer".
The UUP stance of refusing to sit in an executive with Sinn Fein before decommissioning was reiterated by the leader and First Minister, Mr Trimble. Speaking from Westminster he said Sinn Fein must show they were "big enough people" to make the transition and fulfil the wishes of the people.
The Democratic Unionist Party was critical of the Northern Secretary for not including the decommissioning issue in her legislative framework. Mr Ian Paisley Jnr said this meant that there was no opportunity for the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, to introduce special legislation on the issue.
Another anti-agreement unionist, Mr Robert McCartney, said Dr Mowlam intended to do "what the hell she wants".
Meanwhile, the Alliance Party leader met the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in Dublin yesterday. Afterwards, Mr Sean Neeson said: "The clock is now ticking, and a new impetus is required on all sides. In particular, next week's Assembly sitting must produce a positive outcome."