Peter Hain has expressed "deep frustration" at the failure of Ulster's political parties to agree on the chairmanship of a committee looking at ways of restoring devolution.

For the third consecutive day, there was no deal on who should chair the Northern Ireland assembly's preparation for government committee.

Hain said the deadlock was "deeply frustrating"

"It is impossible to see the assembly moving on substantive business if there cannot be agreement on such a basic procedural issue as chairing the preparation for government committee," added the Northern Ireland secretary.

"The parties must urgently resolve this issue.

"Restoring devolution is not for the benefit of the British or Irish governments, it is not for the benefit of MLAs, it is for the people of Northern Ireland.

"The very least the people of Northern Ireland have is a right to expect that the MLAs they elected would do the job they elected them to do.

"The mechanism for restoration is in place. It is up to the parties to make it work.

"Their failure to do so will do the people of Northern Ireland an immense disservice."