The DUP has called for the resignation of the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, following details of the alleged Provisional IRA spy ring at the heart of government in Stormont.
Speaking during a special Assembly debate on the issue, the Rev Ian Paisley condemned the British government for transferring a man allegedly involved to another department instead of removing him altogether.
"The Secretary of State should forthwith resign," he said. If a similar disclosure was made in another part of the UK, there would be a "hue and cry" for the minister's "political scalp", he added.
The disclosures were the latest in a long line of activity, he said. Since the signing of the Belfast Agreement in 1998, the Provisionals had been rearming in Russia and Florida; targeting leading political, judicial, security and loyalist figures; updating their weapons in Colombia; and had carried out over a dozen murders.
"There might be a weak-kneed government. There might be a weak-kneed leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. But Ulster has people who are determined and the IRA are not going to do this. We will not tolerate them in government." Ulster Unionist Environment minister, Mr Dermot Nesbitt, rejected Sinn Féin claims that his party was against equality and sharing power with Catholics. "I stand here and represent a party who wanted, and still wants, to work this agreement. We have been let down big-time.
"You cannot participate in government and at the same time be linked with paramilitarism."
SDLP deputy leader, Ms Bríd Rodgers, said republicans had serious questions to answer over last Friday's raids. "Can they come clean and respond to the various rumours and speculation which are causing such confusion and consternation particularly within the nationalist community? "Were they spying on the British government, on the Irish government, on other parties in this house, on their partners in the peace process?" she asked.
Sinn Féin Assembly member, Ms Mary Nelis, attacked the tactics of the PSNI when searching her party's office.
"We saw on television the heavy-handed action of the RUC/PSNI raid of our party offices in this building. One could clearly see the glee in the face of unionist politicians as they lined up on public television to accuse Sinn Féin, and individuals who have not been accused of anything, of violating democracy."
Alliance leader, Mr David Ford, said while he believed the agreement was still the best opportunity for a liberal, pluralist society in the North, the only current option was to suspend the institutions and set up a review.
Ms Monica McWilliams of the Women's Coalition said the present situation was not the fault of the Assembly or the agreement but of political parties, which had been secretive, selfish and lacking in the necessary commitment to dialogue.
UK Unionist leader, Mr Bob McCartney, said such a blatant violation of the Provisional IRA ceasefire would "even stick in the craw of a British government" renowned for "its ability to swallow anything".