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2 hours and 35 minutes

• Mark Devenport
• 25 Mar 07, 09:24 PM

That's how long we had to go to devolution being restored when I started this post. The question remains - what will happen during the 24 hours which follows?

As I write a DUP statement is expected soon - it may confirm a ground breaking bilateral meeting between Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams. If so that would effectively take the place of the Stormont meeting which was due to lead to the appointment of local ministers.

DUP insiders hope that the bilateral will be a step in a sequence of events which will see an emergency law introduced into Westminster putting off the devolution deadline until May on a date convenient to the government. The idea is that both the water bills and the ban on academic selection will be frozen until then.

Whilst the DUP think this deal is "100%" there's still room for uncertainty. Will Sinn Fein cooperate, or will they seek the launch of British Irish joint partnership arrangements? How in the loop has Peter Hain been, given some suggestions that the Home Secretary John Reid told the parties that it didn't matter what date devolution happened so long as it was on Tony's watch? What about Bertie Ahern's latest interview in which he insists the DUP has had more than enough time? What would be the impact of a delay on the Irish election, which is also expected in May?

Tomorrow we will all be wiser - I shall be at the Assembly where we have a "Stormont Live" planned for noon. Quite what we shall be reporting on then is anyone's guess. Oh and as I sign off we have 2 hours and 25 minutes to go until we win our temporary freedom from the direct rulers.

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