The Assembly has voted in favour of a motion asking the British Government to make St Patrick's Day a public holiday in Northern Ireland.

An amendment, calling for the union flag to be flown on the 17 March, was also passed.

The motion to make St Patrick's Day a public holiday in Northern Ireland was proposed by the Alliance Party.

March 17, the day on which Ireland celebrates the saint who is reputed to have brought Christianity to the island in the fifth century, has traditionally not been celebrated by the unionist community in Northern Ireland.

The debate about a Saint Patrick's Day national holiday may be the last the Assembly holds before being suspended.

Speaking on the motion, Keiran McCathy of the Alliance Party said: "Unfortunately under the current constitutional arrangements, the creation of public holidays still remains a direct responsibility of the British Government.

Amendment to motion

Ulster Unionist Jim Wilson tabled an amendment calling for the union flag to be flown on 17 March.

It was left to the SDLP's Eddie McGrady, in whose constituency the saint is reputedly buried to appeal, for unity on the issue.

He said: "Let us all support this together.

"May I invite you all to Downpatrick in July of this year to celebrate the opening of the first patrician centre in Ireland and the world."

The DUP leader, Ian Paisley, spoke in support of the amendment.

He said he regretted the sectarian label that had been put on the saint and also the political label that had been put on St Patrick.

Suspension of the Assembly could be only a matter of days away.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson is to bring legislation before the House of Commons to suspend devolution, for a second reading on Tuesday, if a way can not be found out of the current deadlock over arms decommissioning.

The call for a Northern Ireland Saint Patrick's Day holiday followed a recent decision by Belfast City Council to refuse funding for a Saint Patrick's parade in Belfast.