Sinn MLA Mitchel McLaughlin.
The appointment of a new Speaker at the Northern Ireland Assembly will not take place today.
It had been thought MLAs would vote on a successor to Derry DUP MLA William Hay who has resigned from the post due to ill-health.
However, First Minister Peter Robinson said the appointment would form part of the planned party negotiations with Northern Ireland Secretary of State Teresa Villiers.
The DUP struck a deal during Ian Paisley’s time as First Minister that Sinn Fein would hold the post which would see the current Deputy Speaker, Derry man Mitchel McLaughlin, the South Antrim MLA, become Speaker.
However, it is known a number of DUP members are against Sinn Fein holding the post.
At this morning’s sitting of the Assemblym Mr McLaughlin was proposed for the post by Deputy First Minister and party colleague Martin McGuinness before Mr Robinson announced the appointment would not happen today.
The SDLP are putting forward their East Derry MLA John Dallat.
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