The Northern Ireland Executive's refusal to meet will cost the construction industry hundreds of jobs by Christmas, a top building director has warned.

Wrangling between the biggest parties - Sinn Fein and the DUP - at Stormont means the 'Cabinet' hasn't met since June.

Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland's (QPANI) Regional Director, Gordon Best, branded failures at the heart of government as "unforgivable".

Mr Best, a member the Construction Industry Group for Northern Ireland (CIGNI), which continues to lobby MLAs for affirmative action, told the Irish News a third of Ulster builders could lose their jobs by Christmas.

He said many within the ailing industry have blasted the Assembly's decision to advertise highly paid government posts, while the building trade was on the brink of collapse.

"How can the assembly, which is functioning with one hand tied behind its back and the executive which is not at all functioning, be recruiting high level jobs at this time?" said Mr Best.

"It is unforgivable that the executive is not meeting at this time of crisis within Northern Ireland industry," he claimed.

Mr Best suggested even the looming global financial crisis had failed 'to move' top ministers.

Around £1bn-worth of public sector contracts have been halted as a result of Executive stalemate, according to Mr Best.

He cited projects such as the contentious national sports stadium, the new police training facility and many infrastructural schemes as jobs that could stimulate the domestic building trade.

All of which are being threatened because government cannot even meet to take decisions, claimed Mr Best.

"Our politicians need to lay aside their current political differences and get on with the job in hand to steer our economy through these turbulent times," he added.

(PR/JM)