A DUP motion calling for the expulsion of Sinn Féin from the Northern Executive for a year in the absence of a further move on IRA decommissioning has failed to gain the necessary cross-community support.
The motion tabled by the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, received the support of 30 anti-Belfast Agreement unionists while three nationalists voted against it. Ulster Unionist MLAs abstained.
The pro-agreement benches remained largely empty and the UUP and the SDLP only put up one speaker each, Environment Minister Mr Dermot Nesbitt, and Finance Minister, Mr Sean Farren. Sinn Féin monitored the debate but did not put up a speaker.
Dismissing the motion as a "stunt", Mr Nesbitt said it aimed to embarrass the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble. Mr Farren accused the DUP of engaging in a "political hokey-cokey - one foot in, one foot out".
Paisley accused Mr Trimble of breaking his word not to share power with Sinn Féin ministers. "I challenge the Official Unionists today to come clean on this matter and tell the people in this debate that they are going to continue to support the IRA in government," he insisted.