The appointment of Stormont’s new ministers could be delayed as parties lock horns over the distribution of portfolios.

A decision is expected to be taken this afternoon on whether the Assembly should meet on Thursday — or put the first meeting off until next Monday.

Even if the 108 newly-elected MLAs gather this Thursday, they may just reaffirm Peter Robinson as First Minister and Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister, along with the election of a new Speaker, who could be a nationalist.

Under the rules, that would allow the parties to leave the issue of the other ministries for up to a further week. It would mean all other Government departments being effectively left in limbo for longer.

All ministers apart from Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness automatically lost their authority at midnight last Thursday, leaving permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants in charge of departments.

Members of the Assembly business committee, which involves all the major parties, are due to meet this afternoon to draw up a schedule for the opening plenary sessions.

Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness met yesterday afternoon to discuss the formation of an Executive, but there was no comment afterwards.

Senior figures in both parties, however, have said they hope to be in place for a Thursday meeting in which all ministerial positions will be filled.

At a briefing Mr McGuinness appeared to hint Sinn Fein would be keen on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Industry but refused to be drawn on the recent speculation.