South Belfast MLA Ms Bradshaw stated: "There is little point in the First and deputy First Minister releasing videos about how 'committed' they are to Ethnic Equality Monitoring if they have not brought forward the legislation which will actually act on it in reality.

"This was supposed to be contained in the much delayed update to the hopelessly outdated Race Relations Order, yet we still see no detail of that."

East Antrim MLA Mr Dickson added: "From both an equality and employment relations perspective we know that Ethnic Equality Monitoring is at least two decades overdue, having first been mentioned in the Racial Equality Strategy 2005-15.

"It remains a source of intense frustration, particularly to ethnic minority communities that, for years, we have had fine words from various First and deputy First Ministers on this, but absolutely no meaningful action.

"The First and deputy First Minister must match their supposed commitment with practical action, in the form of legislation, if they are to be taken seriously on this important equality matter."