assembly

In a statement, Mr Jamal said he would "vigorously contest" the charges against him and described the scenes on Saturday as "a huge assault on the right to freedom of assembly and to protest".

The brake is part of Northern Ireland's Brexit deal and gives the assembly the power to object to changes to EU rules that apply in Northern Ireland.

For the leaders of today’s cultural industries, films, TV series, albums, even books seem to be no more than widgets on an algorithmic assembly line, as fungible as yards of textile or gauges of steel.

"The report concludes that Mr McMonagle was employed for up to 80 hours per week at public cost - in clear breach of assembly rules."

She was speaking as MLAs officially returned to the assembly after winter recess and are facing calls to do more to alleviate the current situation.