Senior officials in more than 50 different public bodies in northern Ireland should be ordered to declare membership of secret organisations, it was claimed tonight.
SDLP Assembly Member Mr John Dallat urged all judges, top civil servants, councillors to reveal membership of institutions such as loyal marching orders, the Freemasons and Knights of St Columbanus.
Mr Dallat said: "Organisations who some perceive to have an undue influence on public life, especially secret organisations, should be brought into day light.
"Any individual associated with such organisations must declare their interests."
The east Derry MLA also argued those who refuse to disclose their interests should face the consequences.
"It is vital that the new system has teeth. That is why failure to declare an interest must carry a tough penalty," he insisted.
"That means disciplinary procedures for failure to declare an interest and even criminal penalties in the event of flagrant breach."
Mr Dallat added that it was vital for people to be reassured about their representatives.
"The spirit of the new politics with the North is that things are different and are seen to be different than in the past," he said.
"The public must have confidence that those in key positions in public life have no secret allegiances or private conflicts that could cause public damage."