The South Belfast MLA was speaking after DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party would continue to block the nomination of an Assembly Speaker, ahead of tomorrow’s recall.

“The passing of the new organ donation law last year was a victory for local democracy, as all the Assembly parties came together for the betterment of society as a whole,” said Ms Bradshaw.

“The DUP is now turning this into a stain on democracy, by refusing even to let the Assembly sit. It is extremely regrettable people desperately awaiting organs are becoming the latest victims of the DUP’s unedifying mud-slinging.

“Unlike the DUP, Alliance will use every avenue open to us to get the relevant regulations approved so the new law comes into operation. However, the fact is the quickest and surest way of achieving this would be via the election of a Speaker and the sitting of the Assembly at Stormont tomorrow. No other route carries any guarantee.

“It may be noted any further failure to elect a Speaker will simply reinforce the point the system at Stormont, whereby votes of MLAs who designate unionist or nationalist are counted more than those of MLAs who do not, is not fit for purpose. It will make the argument for reform, made consistently by Alliance for decades, unanswerable.

“The regulations are already drafted and ready to go. There is neither excuse nor reason for further delay. The DUP needs to stop playing games with people’s lives and get on with the job its MLAs were elected to do.”