A number of Government ministers have called for an emergency Executive meeting on Sunday over Covid-19 restrictions.
A formal joint request for the meeting has been submitted by Minister for Justice Naomi Long, Minister for Finance Conor Murphy and Minister for Infrastructure Nichola Mallon.
It is understood that Minister for Health Robin Swann has also written to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister calling for an urgent meeting.
It remains unclear whether the DUP has agreed.
In a letter seen by PA news agency, the three ministers raised concerns about the more infectious coronavirus variant found in England.
"The speed and scale of the virus transmission spread and the fact that it is so fast-moving is a cause for alarm to us all," they said.
"While our Executive met last Thursday and moved to take decisions ahead of others, it would be prudent for the full Executive to be briefed by the Minister of Heath and the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer at the earliest opportunity.
"We must satisfy ourselves that our regulations and restrictions over the Christmas period and those agreed over the coming six week period are sufficiently robust enough to safeguard public health in the context of these latest developments."
