The DUP said it will “not abdicate its responsibilities” in the political fallout over the Drumcree dispute.

However, DUP leader Gavin Robinson insisted it cannot be “business as normal” at Stormont following alleged “law breaking” by Sinn Féin ministers, claiming 40 political representatives had “broken the law”.

He was speaking at Parliament Buildings as the parading stand-off enters its second week, and another legal challenge is being heard.

The impasse started after the Parades Commission said an Orange Order parade could complete its traditional route along the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years.

However, the parade has not taken place because police said they could not facilitate it with the crowds gathered on the Garvaghy Road in opposition.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and other ministers and elected representatives from Sinn Féin, the SDLP and People Before Profit have been criticised for being present on the Garvaghy Road.

Ms O’Neill has said she is standing by the residents of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, and “it’s up to all of us to collectively and unequivocally stand with the Garvaghy Road residents and to say no to a sectarian, unwanted march”.

The Garvaghy Road residents are taking further legal action against the Parades Commission determination at the Court of Appeal in Belfast on Monday.

There were sharp exchanges between MLAs over Drumcree during questions for the Executive Office in the Assembly, which were taken by deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey challenged her on the Loyalist Communities Council giving evidence to the Parades Commission.

Ms Little-Pengelly responded saying Sinn Féin’s “brass neck beggars belief” after the party stood “shoulder to shoulder with dissidents, with Provos, with those with appalling convictions”.

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty said he was “very proud to stand with the residents of the Garvaghy Road”, and Ms Little-Pengelly responded that she was “disappointed” by him “justifying your actions” and “dancing to the beat of a dissident drum”.

“I do think it’s deeply disappointing, and I would suggest that you should apologise for that,” she added.

The First Minister is scheduled to face an urgent oral question from DUP MLA Phillip Brett on Monday afternoon.

Earlier TUV leader Jim Allister challenged the DUP to ensure consequences for Northern Ireland’s “First Minister of lawlessness” by withdrawing its deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, from the Executive.

UUP leader Jon Burrows called for an end of the Drumcree stand-off to allow police to go back to daily duties, as well as investigating alleged law breaches over the impasse.

“This needs to end soon, and then the consequences have to be brought to bear for Sinn Féin,” he said.

“Is Michelle O’Neill in my view fit for office? In my view, no, she is not. That’s why we will support the case that she has breached the pledge of office.”

SDLP leader Claire Hanna called for a “good outcome” for Drumcree “that allows people in Portadown to get on with their lives”.

She said there is “still a job to do at Stormont”, highlighting that six months into the financial year, a budget has still not been set.

Mr Robinson vowed to hold Sinn Féin ministers to account, but that his party will not be goaded into collapsing the powersharing government.

“There is no question of us abdicating our responsibilities,” he said. “People at home are asking the question of those who are abdicating their responsibilities, their pledge of office and their commitment to sharing power in Northern Ireland.

“This weekend we saw again a cavalier attitude towards the rule of law by senior Sinn Féin representatives on the Garvaghy Road – they blocked the road again.

“The PSNI has indicated very clearly that it was an un-notified process, that there will be criminal sanctions.”

Mr Robinson said they have processes in place with regard 40 elected representatives.

“It is not business as usual, we have scores and scores and scores of complaints that have been submitted with Standards Commissioners, a motion of no confidence has been signed in this place, there are individuals who are elected representatives in other forum, councillors, local government standards commissioners complaints in,” he said.

“We have identified over 40 elected representatives out breaking the law continually over the last week, there has got to be consequences.”

He said Mr Allister “has fallen into the trap laid for him by republicans who have all but given up (on power sharing government) and if he wants to walk that dance with them, that is a matter for him.

“What he can’t answer is what happens next, how does it resolve the situation at Drumcree, how does it resolve the questions around pledges of office, nor does it answer how the budget situation gets resolved.”

Mr Robinson added: “I recognise that the Portadown Orange men have been constructive throughout the entirety of the last week. They haven’t called for thousands to descend upon the Garvaghy Road or Drumcree Hill. They haven’t sought to raise tensions, they have abided by the law, and it stands in stark contrast to those on the Garvaghy Road.”

Mr Allister accused Sinn Féin of an “open, deliberate, conscious defiance of the rule of law”.

“Sinn Féin ministers have breached the law and seem indifferent as to whether they keep the law or break the law,” he said.

“So long as the DUP, who put Sinn Féin into government, sustain them in government, then when Michelle O’Neill and others get the knock on the door from police, if they do, they effectively have in their hand a character reference from the DUP that they are fit to govern by virtue of the fact they have sustained them there.

“The question for the DUP and other unionists in the Executive is: do they think Sinn Féin are fit to govern? Because if they don’t, the answer lies in their own hand. The answer lies in reversing the process that put them there in the first place by resigning their deputy First Minister and demonstrating that there are consequences for breaking the law.”