It comes in response to an Assembly Question put to the joint FMdFM office.

Ms Bradshaw has said: "The complete absence of equality legislation coming forward from the Executive Office over a period of two decades is a shocking dereliction of duty from the First and deputy First Ministers throughout that time, given how many pieces of equivalent legislation have been passed in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland during that time.

"There are people of voting age who were not alive the last time any equality legislation was passed in Northern Ireland. This is despite the fact we have seen the Single Equality Act elsewhere in the UK and a range of equality issues coming to the fore which simply are not covered in law in Northern Ireland.

"It’s not just our equality legislation that is outdated, but frankly, so is the system of legislating here itself. With sectarian vetoes, institutional collapse, and constant blockages in the Executive, without reform we will only see further inefficiency and delay in advancing legislation.

"Myself and my Alliance colleagues are determined to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland do not become victims of outdated or absent equality law, and we will continue outlining this pressing need to the First and deputy First Minister.”