Prime Minister's question time was wiped out and a day's Commons business lost as Conservative and unionist MPs continued their battle against the Bill lifting the disqualification on members of the Oireachtas sitting at Stormont or Westminster.
After an all-night marathon, opposition MPs sustained the Committee Stage of the Disqualification Bill past the 2.30 p.m. deadline, which meant the day's business was lost.
Mr Peter Mandelson, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said: "Those who have tried to wreck the legislation do not have Northern Ireland's interests at heart.".
However his shadow, Mr Andrew Mackay, insisted the government had only itself to blame for attempting to "railroad" the Bill through the Commons.
He said implementation should be delayed until progress was made on IRA decommissioning. The Tory amendment to that effect was defeated by 271 votes to 133.
