The Northern Secretary has condemned an attack on the Agriculture Minister, Ms Brid Rodgers, who was pelted with eggs by protesters while opening a training centre in the Co Down fishing village of Portavogie.
The Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, yesterday raised the incident with the RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, who said that he would take all possible steps to ensure that Ministers could go about their official business without interference.
The Minister arrived at a community centre at around 11 a.m. yesterday amid rumours that protesters were gathering nearby. When she left the building to open the John Warnock training centre and announce a £500,000 investment in a local ice-plant, Ms Rodgers came under attack from egg-throwing protesters, one of the eggs striking her on the leg.
The Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, has said he "totally deplored" the "disgraceful" attack on Ms Rodgers.
"It is quite wrong that a democratically elected representative should be subject to such attack when carrying out government duties.
"The attack on Ms Rodgers was an attack on the democratic wishes of the vast majority of Northern Ireland people. But I am confident it will not deter Ministers in the new government of Northern Ireland from carrying out their duties," Mr Mandelson said.
After meeting Sir Ronnie yesterday, Mr Mallon said: "It is both wrong and undemocratic for those who wish to protest to use violence, or the threat of violence, as the means of advancing their protest. As we make political progress, there can be no place for those who wish to return us to the past."
The protesters waved Union flags and banners reading "Portavogie supports Portadown Orangemen" in reference to Ms Rodgers's support for the residents of the Garvaghy Road. Nationalist Ministers were not welcome in the village, one of the protesters said.
After the engagement, there was renewed verbal abuse and egg-throwing directed at the Minister as she went across to the harbour. Ms Rodgers was hit on the body and hair. Some of her officials were also struck by eggs.
The Minister described the incident as a case of "rent-a-mob" and said she would not be intimidated by such actions. "I would be working to help all the people, regardless of their political persuasion," she added.
Asked whether she was happy with the level of RUC protection, Ms Rodgers refused to comment, but SDLP sources later voiced their concern that it had been possible for the incident to take place.
A spokesman for the RUC said given the situation, there were "sufficient police in the area to ensure Ms Rodgers's safety". Some of the officers on duty were themselves pelted with eggs, he added.