The Assembly backed Alliance’s call for reform in the wake of the Covid Inquiry’s latest report, which concluded that existing structures undermined the Executive’s ability to respond effectively during the pandemic.

Speaking after the debate, Mrs Long said: “Alliance has long been clear that institutional reform is urgently needed to remove the ability of any single party to hold decision-making, or the institutions themselves, to ransom. It is a truly historic milestone that the Assembly has now endorsed that position and backed our call for the Secretary of State to convene process of reform.

“The Covid Inquiry shone a light on the extent of dysfunction within the Executive and provided further evidence, if it was needed, of the necessity for structural change. At a time when the public needed clarity and leadership during the pandemic, abuse of cross-community voting plunged decision-making into chaos and disarray.

“Of course, that level of dysfunction is not simply during times of global crisis. Just this week, we have seen a Petition of Concern abused by the DUP. Repeated misuse of vetoes by the two largest parties, and the displays of arrogance and disrespect which often accompanied them, contributed to many of the issues that destabilised the Assembly in previous mandates.

“I will now write to the Secretary of State to request that a process is convened with the co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and local parties to deliver reform of the institutions without further prevarication or delay. To do otherwise would be a dereliction of duty.

“We must grasp this opportunity to move beyond the division and dysfunction which has plagued Stormont, and build stable, sustainable institutions which are capable of delivering for everyone in Northern Ireland.”