The Northern Ireland Assembly has been recalled from its summer recess following violent disorder in Northern Ireland
Ahead of the recall, the executive met at Stormont Castle
Violence first erupted in Belfast on Saturday night, after an anti-immigration protest at the city hall in the afternoon
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher briefed ministers and says the PSNI will deal with this disorder
MLAs backed a motion condemning the recent disorder and rejecting “all forms of racism” in Northern Ireland
That concludes our coverage of the Assembly recall in which MLAs backed a motion condemning the recent disorder and rejecting “all forms of racism” in Northern Ireland.
This page was written by Matt Fox, Catherine Doyle, Ross McKee and Ashleigh Swan.
Thank-you for joining us.
Chief constable Jon Boutcher has asked for 120 officers from Police Scotland to be temporarily deployed to Northern Ireland from next week.
Earlier he was briefing the Stormont Executive on the recent anti-immigration protests and associated violence.
“Having those additional resources is vital to helping us be prepared for any future disorder,” he told a press conference afterwards.
Mr Boutcher says talks about the PSNI’s budget are for another day.
But he stated the force had been allowed to “decay” in recent years and his officers are “exhausted”.
In a statement, the Executive Office (TEO) says "we stand united" in a call for an end to the violence, disorder and racist attacks.
The TEO goes on to say all criminality will be addressed with a "zero-tolerance approach".
"We all see the devastating impact these attacks have had on victims, their families and our communities. Those involved in violence, intimidation, in causing chaos and destruction, will be dealt with by the full force of the law," the statement says.
The TEO acknowledges the challenges facing the PSNI and says: "we will continue to press the Treasury for fair funding to deliver the best possible public services."
"It is important that we recognise the significant and positive contribution of minority ethnic people within our health service, economic, public, political, social, and cultural life," it adds.
Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent
It's not often you hear a round of applause in the assembly chamber.
But that happened on several occasions today as MLAs reflected on events of the past week.
Members of minority community groups sat and watched in the public gallery as politicians addressed them directly, offering words of support and of condemnation against what has happened so far.
While recall debates are often described as little more than talking shops, many felt the seriousness of the situation demanded our politicians' presence today.
Politicians may struggle in the short-term to change attitudes, but there is pressure on the executive to act in certain policy areas such as updating racial equality strategies.
Strategies which at surface level may not mean much, have practical consequences for how those communities are represented and the access to services they get.
There is also the question of better resource for the PSNI.
Yesterday when I asked the secretary of state could he commit to improved funding for the organisation, he said it was a matter for the executive to prioritise what they already have for this year.
Today the first and deputy first ministers told me they're still fighting to get the Treasury to improve our funding formula and insisted the PSNI will not be "alone" in tackling this issue.
Speaker Edwin Poots rises to ask the clerk to read out the result of the DUP amendment vote stating that the right to “peaceful protest is a fundamental pillar of any democracy and must be protected”.
He says of 71 members votes, there are 28 aye votes and 43 noes.
The amendment therefore is rejected.
He puts the original Alliance motion to the chamber and it unanimously passes.
MLAs back the motion condemning the recent disorder and rejecting “all forms of racism” in Northern Ireland.
Speaker Edwin Poots now calls on the Assembly to vote on an amendment to the motion, brought forward by the DUP's Jonathan Buckley and Brian Kingston.
Here is the original Opposition to Racism motion, external, put forward by the Alliance party.
The DUP members' proposed amendment can be viewed here, external, and incorporates text which calls on the Assembly to recognise the right to peaceful protest.
The Alliance Party's Kate Nicholl says she feels "uncomfortable with other members starting their remarks with having legitimate concerns" which she says "do not validate illegitimate protests."
She said its "shameful to focus on issues like housing policy when there are victims sitting in the gallery living in fear."
She claims it is "negligent" to bring it up today.
The DUP’s MLA for Upper Bann, Jonathan Buckley, says he wants to make it “crystal clear” that he condemns the violence “on our streets and across the United Kingdom”.
“No ifs, no buts,” he adds.
He expresses his sympathy for the families of the victims of the knife attack in Southport on 29 July in which three young girls died.
He adds that the “violent scenes” in the UK in the aftermath of the knife attack “do nothing to honour their memory”.
The First Minster Michelle O'Neill says she welcomes the assembly has convened and says "we are very strongly united and standing firmly against the racism, violence and intimidation".
She said officials from the executive office are engaging with colleagues across department and agencies to explore how financial support can be provide to business affected.
Independent unionist Claire Sugden says it is an important message for the Assembly to come together and "unequivocally condemn" what has been happening.
Ms Sugden also pays tribute to the three young girls killed in Southport last week, "whose precious lives were taken by a man".
"If there's any protest that we should all join it should be to address the persistent violence against women and girls," she says.
She also pays tribute to the community of Southport, saying "we need to look to them" as an example.
"They have remembered their babies with dignity, they do not want violence and they do not want it in the name of those that they loved," she says.
For those being targeted in race attacks, Ms Sugden says she is "so sorry that living here has made you feel scared, intimidated and unsafe".
She says she is "horrified" and "ashamed" that this behaviour is being associated with Northern Ireland.
Image source, BBC Sport
New TUV MLA Timothy Gaston, makes his debut in the chamber.
He says he says he “strongly condemns" the violence we have seen in recent days.
He adds that the "destruction of property and physical attacks on people have no place in NI".
He points out that:“Right across Northern Ireland multiple sectors depend on foreign workers.”
He says those who protest should do so "with this in mind".
But Mr Gaston also says there are “legitimate concerns” about "legal and illegal immigration" in Northern Ireland.
The North Antrim MLA talks about the “pressures on housing that immigration has played a factor in”.
He then gives way to Alliance's Kate Nicholl who rises to ask, "how you can put the housing crisis on migrants’ feet when it is politicians who are responsible for investment?"
Mr Gaston answers that it as a “factor” and “not solely” the problem.
There's shouting in the chamber, as Mr Gaston talks about “pressures” in trying to see doctors and dentists that he says “immigration has played a part in”.
People Before Profit’s west Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll expresses his disgust at the “brutal, racist violence” in recent days.
He also extends his solidarity to all the victims and says those responsible for the attacks “are in the minority”.
He pays tribute to the “anti-racist campaigners” who have “taken a stand against the hate of the far right”.
“Stand up against racism, don’t give it any quarter," he adds.
The SDLP's Sinead McLaughlin says its "hard to find the words to describe what we have seen."
She said the agitators of the violence have showed the "worst of our society" and they have made her "embarrassed and ashamed."
She said the barriers of employment and housing are not because of refugees, but because of policy failure.
"It is the job of all of us in this chamber to educate and inform, not demonise," she says.
Ulster Unionist MLA for North Down, Alan Chambers, says he hopes that those who feel threatened as a result of the recent attacks can take some comfort from the support expressed in the assembly chamber and the “broader community”.
He says that some months ago he had been a “reluctant guest” in the Ulster Hospital during a two-week stay.
“At least 25% of the medical and nursing staff who administered this treatment 24/7 were from overseas," he adds.
“I am saddened but can fully understand why some of these medical practitioners have expressed the view that they intend to take their skills elsewhere.”
He appealed to “all overseas staff” in the healthcare system not to leave and said the community needed them.
“You are totally and completely one of us.”
Sinn Féin's Liz Kimmons says today is "an important opportunity" for members of the assembly to stand together and condemn the "horrendous images and attacks we have seen on our migrant communities over the last number of days".
Ms Kimmons says politicians "have to show leadership" and let those from ethnic minorities backgrounds know that that "we will do all that we can to protect them going forward".
She says those from other countries "enrich our society and contribute to our society in so many ways".
Ms Kimmons also praises the role of foreign national health workers in Northern Ireland.
"We must be, and are, eternally grateful to each and every one of them," she says.
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw - who introduced the Assembly recall petition - says people from all ethnic minorities communities now living in Northern Ireland are valued.
"This is their home as much as anyone else's," she says.
"We will endorse and support the rebuilding that now has to be done."
Ms Bradshaw says this rebuilding "goes well beyond" the clear-up of damaged properties and the restoration of businesses.
"It requires action from political leaders and it requires the rebuilding of trust," she adds.
Sinn Fein's Emma Sheerin says she is glad everyone is standing together today in response to some of the worst days we have seen in society recently.
She said its important to send a message to the "racist thugs who have been attempting to destroy parts of our community that we will not tolerate it and it must stop."
She sends her support to the ethnic minority communities in Belfast.
"We see your fear and we send solidarity to you," she says.
SDLP South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole welcomes members of the Muslim community to the assembly chamber.
“We owe them an apology for what they and their community have had to endure in this society and city over recent weeks and days,” he says.
“I say to them sorry, but also thank you for what your community and people of all communities who have come to this society have offered us and continue to offer us every single day.
“We are in your debt,” he adds.
Ulster Unionist Steve Aiken adds his party's support to the motion.
He praises the work of ethnic minority health workers, saying he spent several hours in Antrim Area Hospital yesterday with one of his children.
He says those in the emergency department were grateful for the "professional medical care they were receiving".
"I did not hear one complaint about receiving help from whatever source it came from," he says.
He says he then heard of a "despicable" attack on a care worker's home in Ballyclare, which he says was "utterly abhorrent".
"The fact is this is a migrant worker who came to Northern Ireland to help," Mr Aiken says.
Some "very misguided" people think it is appropriate to attack immigrants, the UUP member adds.
"It is not... It has to stop, it has to stop now."
