The DUP called for the panel addressing the controversial issue to investigate whether to include a member of David Ford's party.

Alliance has been touted as a potential candidate for holding the local security powers ministry, a crucial issue in the Executive standoff between Sinn Fein and the DUP.

The DUP's Simon Hamilton said: "We were always consistently in favour of them (Alliance] having a place on the (Assembly and Executive Review] committee.

"I think it is important if we are scoping out what we are going to do that that situation is resolved in terms of getting another member."

He said he was prepared to propose that an Alliance MLA be brought on board.

Sinn Fein and the DUP have already agreed that neither will hold the key policing position.

First Minister Peter Robinson has said devolution of policing will happen but warned he would not be bullied into making the change prematurely.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams claimed there were bigoted elements of the DUP who didn't want a Catholic about the place and opposed power-sharing in any form.