The Assembly's Executive Office committee is seeking legal advice on how to compel the First and Deputy First Ministers to appear before it. Committee members said repeated requests had gone unanswered.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has said she is willing to attend the committee. But the DUP says her Sinn Fein counterpart is blocking joint appearances. Both ministers must act jointly.

Committee chair Paula Bradshaw said the Assembly mandate ends in 188 days and suggested some were trying to run down the clock.

DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said no reasons had been given for the ministers' absence. She said the only conclusion is that they are avoiding scrutiny.

Erskine proposed seeking legal advice and using committee powers to compel witnesses. She said the witness would be the very minister the committee is tasked with scrutinising.

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston criticised First Minister Michelle O'Neill for attending a meeting of nationalist movements in Cardiff while not attending her own committee. Sinn Fein's Caral Ni Chuilin dismissed his remarks, saying O'Neill faces worse going to the shop.

Sinn Fein's Sinead Ennis said critics had no idea why O'Neill cannot attend at the moment. She rejected the claim that unionist MLAs' political prowess was the reason.