Controversial moves to devolve policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland should not go ahead while the police are investigating the IRA's role in the Northern Bank robbery, the Assembly heard today.
Ulster Unionist David Burnside said there was no demand in the community for a local minister in charge of the sensitive portfolio.
An Assembly committee chaired by the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson will consider the political hot potato and report back to the full chamber by February 29th.
Mr Burnside asked: "Why is this motion is being brought before the house at this early stage when there's no demand from the community for the transfer of justice and policing and there still is a criminal investigation into the Northern Bank robbery carried out by the republican movement Sinn Féin/IRA?"
Robbers escaped with stg£26.5m during the raid in Belfast city centre in December 2004. PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde blamed the IRA for the operation, in which masked men held a family at their west Belfast home and forced the bank employee to open the vaults.
The motion was passed without debate after Speaker William Hay cut off Mr Burnside.
Mr Donaldson chairs the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, which will consider the matter.
His party colleague, Finance Minister Peter Robinson, has said it could be "several political lifetimes" before there was the community confidence to have policing and justice powers devolved to Northern Ireland because of "the rate Sinn Fein are going".
He said it was essential Sinn Féin recognise the need to build confidence in the community.
The new powers, currently reserved by the Northern Ireland Office, are a key demand of Sinn Féin and were planned for review as part of the St Andrews Agreement which paved the way for last month's power-sharing.