Unionist politicians have been urged to drop a proposal to look at changing the flag policy at Stormont amid rising tensions on the issue.
The DUP is expected to raise the issue on Tuesday at Assembly buildings, where the Union Flag currently flies on 15 designated days of the year.
It is understood DUP MLA Peter Weir will call for the number of days to be increased at a meeting of the Assembly Commission which manages Parliament Buildings.
On Monday night there were 43 illegal road blocks as protests spread across Northern Ireland.
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said there have been almost 40 arrests since trouble began more than a week ago and he will deploy more resources onto the streets on Tuesday night as they prepare for continued trouble.
SDLP MLA Conall McDevitt called for the DUP to “step back” and not raise the motion for now as tensions are already at a high.
Alliance Deputy leader Naomi Long questioned the DUP’s motives on the issue. She said: “Why are they raising an issue which has been dormant for a number of years?”
Speaking to the News Letter on Monday UUP MLA Basil McCrea, who has expressed his support of the Alliance stance on flags at Belfast City Hall, said a motion to fly the Union Flag on designated days at Lisburn council building caused “no dissent” back in 2006.
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