Northern Secretary Peter Hain will today face demands in the Assembly to withdraw plans to force all businesses in the North to recognise the rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual couples.
A motion by Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson and his East Antrim colleague George Dawson condemns plans to implement the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 on January 1st, ahead of the rest of the United Kingdom.
The act would force the owners of all businesses, including those run by churches, to give gay, lesbian and bisexual couples access to their services.
Mr Donaldson has claimed the regulations would place Christian-run businesses such as guesthouses in an ethical dilemma - forcing them to choose between religious opposition to homosexuality or breaking the law.
He told deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in the House of Commons: "In Northern Ireland, those regulations are being imposed against the wishes of the vast majority of people in that part of the United Kingdom."
But Mr Prescott defended the plan. "I am not a religious man, but I always understood that religion was about tolerance. It is a pity that we do not show more tolerance to different cultures and different religions. We would be a lot better off for it," he said.
PA