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The Alliance Party is calling for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister to ensure that the second implementation action plan of the Racial Equality Strategy is effective.
A Sinn Fein amendment to the motion calling for detailed official plans for 2008-2011 for achieving equality was passed unanimously.
That marginalisationwas highlighted in 2005 when a Ukrainian migrant worker had both legs amputated after suffering frostbite in Northern Ireland.
Oksana Sukhanova, 27, suffered horrific injuries while sleeping rough in County Antrim during the freezing temperatures over the New Year period.
Martina Anderson (Sinn Fein, Foyle) said the Police Service of Northern Ireland needed to do more to tackle the issue.
"We know that there`s much evidence to suggest that some loyalists are behind a significant proportion of racist incidents and there`s been a failure in unionist parties to address this," she added.
"This state, which is now branded as the racist capital of Europe, has its own autonomous racist logic which we now have the chance, the obligation, to address through the Good Friday Agreement and the Assembly with the work we are doing with the Bill of Rights and move forward towards a society which respects all traditions."
The police have taken a number of measures including publishing welcome packs for migrants, and Tom Elliott (UUP, Fermanagh, South Tyrone) said unionists had been at the forefront of tackling the problem.
He said his party had been engaging with the police for years in local scrutiny bodies to clamp down on racism.
Anna Lo (Alliance Party, South Belfast) said there were problems with the Racial Equality Strategy.
"The delay in publishing the strategy, given the dramatic increase in inward migration in Northern Ireland over the last few years, has caused concerns that the strategy is already out of date.
"There was disappointment too that the Strategy only commits Government departments and not all statutory bodies and the wider community, including the business sector, to maximise the effect of the strategy in promoting racial equality."
The first joint reception held by First Minister Ian Paisley (DUP, North Antrim) and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein, Mid-Ulster) was for minorities and Mr McGuinness said they were committed to legislating on the matter.
He has ordered a review of five key policy objectives and sent his junior minister to the Racial Equality Forum of civic representatives to gather information.
He also allowed additional time before publishing the racial equality action plan to consult.
"We are convinced that those discussions will lead to a more strategic, focused and long-term action plan for racial equality across all departments," he said.
Dolores Kelly (SDLP, Upper Bann) said she was horrified at reports of swastikas in Belfast in 2007.
"There is a very clear need for all the limbs of government to work properly together for this to work," she said.
"The Housing Executive, our Social Services and our Equality Commission must all be at the top of their games.
"There is, on a number of levels, a great chance for us to learn about co-operation here and the success that it can bring."
Later, National Press Officer for the British National Party, Dr Phil Edwards said the BNP `were not hatemongers but seek to preserve British identity`.
"If people want to join us they are free to do so," he said.
"The BNP has nothing to do with swastikas."
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Originally Posted by Gary Carter
