The ongoing lack of agreement over police reform could hamper the RUC in its efforts to combat an upswing in sectarian violence, the First Minister has said.
During questions to the First and Deputy First Minister, Mr Duncan Shipley-Dalton (UUP) asked Mr Trimble if he agreed it was "a disgrace that at this difficult time, with pipe bombings and paramilitary activity continuing, those who complain daily have not got the decency or the moral courage to now support the police?"
Mr Trimble replied that while he would not have used those terms, "I am concerned that the continuing uncertainty about policing arrangements will have the effect of undermining the effectiveness and morale of the RUC and limit its ability to deal with this very serious issue."
A number of members also expressed concern at a leaked memo which appeared to suggest that senior civil servants were attempting to frustrate the work of Assembly committees set up to scrutinise Executive departments. Mr Alex Maskey of Sinn Fein said the memo appeared to suggest that civil servants felt committees were "butting their noses in". Mr Trimble said he did not feel there was "any intention in any way to limit the proper role of the committees".
The First Minister said that Assembly committees had been explicitly written into the Belfast Agreement to develop policy, be consulted by and in turn scrutinise Executive departments.
Mr Trimble said the committees also had the legal power to send for departmental papers and that the memo had been addressing the detailed question of how this might best be done.