The North's First Minister and Deputy First Minister are to press ahead with introducing equality legislation despite the DUP helping to defeat a Sinn Féin motion on equality in the Assembly yesterday, according to Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness.
Deputy First Minister Mr McGuinness rejected a claim by the Ulster Unionist Party that Sinn Féin's failure to carry the motion illustrated that DUP/Sinn Féin powersharing was not working.
The motion proposed by Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson called on the Northern Executive to bring forward harmonising equality legislation in a single equality bill that would cover all areas of the equality agenda - an issue that the Assembly has been unable to resolve despite a number of attempts since 1999.
While the motion was generally worded, there were some exchanges in which a number of other Sinn Féin and SDLP members complained about unionist discrimination in the past.
The UUP said initially it intended to support the motion but midway through the debate it altered its position because of the "tone" of Sinn Féin speakers, who addressed the subject.
UUP Strangford MLA David McNarry said it had become clear that "Sinn Féin MLAs regarded the motion as an opportunity to vent outdated prejudices" about unionist discrimination.
"What should have been a measured, thoughtful debate by the Northern Ireland Assembly on equality legislation for the 21st century became nothing more than biased finger-wagging by Sinn Féin representatives," he said.
Mr McGuinness, responding on behalf of himself and First Minister Ian Paisley, read a carefully-worded script that did not apportion specific blame to any group or party in relation to discrimination.
"We intend that any possible equality legislation will provide an effective framework for everyone in our increasingly diverse and multi-cultural society," he said.
The motion was defeated by 45 votes to 42.
This prompted Mr McNarry to argue outside the chamber that the result pointed to the unravelling of co-operation between Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness.
Mr McGuinness appeared unperturbed by DUP MLAs opposing the motion notwithstanding that the office of Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness is tasked to introduce equality legislation.
"I don't think this [result] has any implication for that work," he said.
He said introducing legislation to the Northern Executive was a "top priority" for Dr Paisley and himself and regardless of the result they would press ahead with "expediting" the legislation.
He said that he and the First Minister recently hosted a successful function for ethnic minorities at Stormont "in which Ian Paisley and myself both made it clear we are dedicated to ensuring that we end inequality and discrimination".
A senior DUP source said that despite the DUP's role in the defeat of the motion, the office of Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness still intended to bring comprehensive equality legislation before the Executive.
