The DUP has accused Sinn Fein of creating a “spectacle” by publicly criticising a proposed Bill over school inspections.
The Education Inspections Bill, is being debated in the Assembly on Monday as part of the second stage of the legislative process.
It comes amid long-running industrial action by teachers around inspections.
Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan criticised the Bill as an “attack on the employment rights of teachers’ and an attempt to undermine their right to lawful industrial action”.
Education Minister Paul Givan claimed he made changes in response to Sinn Fein’s concerns.
However, First Minister and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill said her party allowed the Bill to be debated in the Assembly on Monday, whereas the DUP has “blocked” the Good Jobs Bill.
Speaking at a press conference in Stormont on Monday morning, DUP leader Gavin Robinson claimed it is “extraordinary” that his party colleague Mr Givan took the legislation to the Executive and “got the full support of the Executive” only for a party that is a member of the Executive to oppose it.
“Those are political games that I don’t think the public outside have very much time for. Those are political games that the public get fed up with,” he said.
Mr Givan claimed the Bill had been agreed at the Executive without any dissent.
He said financial penalties and a potential criminal conviction clause in the original Bill had been removed at Sinn Fein’s request.
“This has been changed at Sinn Fein’s request. They subsequently supported the alternative mechanism, and now over the weekend have indicated that they’re going to come out and vote against this.
“I think that is a bizarre way to do politics but more importantly it is actually a dereliction of duty in the protection of children and young people in our schools.
“I think the public will be aghast at the approach they have taken.”
Responding, Ms O’Neill said unlike with the Good Jobs Bill, her party allowed the Education Inspections Bill to get to the Assembly for debate.
“We allowed it to go through the Executive to get it on to the Assembly floor and let the Assembly members provide their scrutiny,” she said.
“That is where the work should be done in full view for everyone to be able to see and understand the party’s positions on things.
“Whilst we don’t necessarily agree with the Inspections Bill, and told him (Paul Givan) that at every turn in the Executive, we don’t agree with that, but we let it on to the Assembly floor and let the Assembly members do their work, that’s what they’re elected to do, to scrutinise legislation.”
