The SDLP has renewed its claim to any future ministry of justice job at Stormont and accused the DUP and Sinn Fein of unfairly excluding it.

The party`s Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, claimed that under the Assembly`s rules it was entitled to any new ministry.

But Sinn Fein accused the party of putting narrow self-interest ahead of the needs of the nationalist community.

Ms Ritchie`s comments followed reports that Sinn Fein and the DUP hoped to see the Alliance party take on the new post in the event of agreement between the DUP and republicans on transferring policing and justice powers to Stormont.

The SDLP`s Ms Ritchie said: "If there is to be a justice ministry it must be a full-blooded justice ministry, not something half-baked where power resides with the Northern Ireland Office. It is the SDLP`s entitlement to take up the ministry."