There were clashes between DUP and PUP Assembly members during a discussion on proposed regulations for the flying of flags on government buildings yesterday.
The Ad Hoc Committee on Flags was established to consider draft regulations on the Flags (NI) Order 2000 prepared by the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, and to submit a report to the Assembly by Monday.
Each party submitted proposals and amendments to the committee. Mr Peter Robinson (DUP) proposed each party's submission be examined in detail by the committee in an attempt to find areas of agreement.
However, Mr David Ervine (PUP) said the result would be a foregone conclusion with voting along party lines. Mr Ervine proposed that parties' statements already received by the committee should be sent to the Assembly as they stood.
"We know what the outcome is going to be. Why do we want to have a league table of who has support and who doesn't?" he said.
The committee chairman, Mr Fraser Agnew, put Mr Ervine's proposal to the meeting. It was defeated by nine votes to eight.
The chairman proceeded with Mr Robinson's proposal of proceeding through every point of each party's submission. Sinn Fein refused to take part in the proceedings. The SDLP's Mr Alban Maginness said the procedure was "ridiculous".
The chairman said information about which parties supported which proposals would be added to the report to be presented to the Assembly on Monday.