Sinn Fein and unionists have clashed after a Sinn Fein Assembly member compared the Orange Order to the Ku Klux Klan.
Speaking against a DUP motion calling for an immediate place for the Order on the North's Civic Forum, Dr Dara O'Hagan, launched a stinging attack on the organisation.
Describing the Order as "sectarian" and "racist", Dr O'Hagan said the motion was akin to inviting the Ku Klux Klan to make a positive contribution to the life of the United States.
Mr Edwin Poots, DUP MLA, said he expected no better from a Sinn Fein member. "For them to talk about anybody else being bloodthirsty, being racist, being bigots, is somewhat farcical, given their track record in this province over the past 30 years." His party colleague, Mr Nigel Dodds, said Ms O'Hagan's contribution had gone a long way to explain why Sinn Fein was unfit for government.
Last month, the First Minister announced the appointment of Portadown solicitor Mr Richard Monteith as someone who could represent the views of the Orange Order.
But, Mr Dodds said, it was up to the Orange Order to decide who should represent it. He added that two members of the Grand Lodge had been overlooked.
SDLP MLA Ms Carmel Hanna accused the DUP of hypocrisy, saying it had refused to participate in the group set up to advise the First and Deputy First Ministers on the setting up of the Civic Forum. Junior ministers Dermot Nesbitt (UUP, South Down) and Denis Haughey (SDLP, Mid Ulster) defended the appointments.
The motion was defeated by 52 votes to 21. Nationalists were split when the Assembly also agreed to apply to join the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Sinn Fein opposed the motion and the SDLP supported it.
Proposing the motion, Prof Monica McWilliams of the Women's Coalition said it was extremely important for Assembly members to learn from the experiences of people from the Commonwealth countries.
Opposing the motion, Sinn Fein's Mr Conor Murphy said not until "we establish a formal and proper relationship with our neighbouring island (can) we examine what relationships we have with some parliamentary organisations which take their existence from the British Commonwealth".
The SDLP's Mr Alex Attwood said while nationalists did not have a natural identification with the Commonwealth, they accepted that others valued the relationship.
"Because we honour the Good Friday agreement when it refers to fair treatment and equality we will be accepting this motion," he said. The motion was passed by assent.