Lady Trimble last night insisted she did not consider resigning in the wake of the row over the Bill of Rights because there was too much other good work to do.

The Human Rights Commission member told MPs she believed she had much to contribute despite criticising the organisation’s proposals.

While there had been “robust” discussions since she submitted a “note of dissent” to the Secretary of State setting out her objections to the group’s recommendations Lady Trimble still felt comfortable working in the commission.

Giving evidence at the Northern Ireland Affairs committee watched by her husband, former First Minister Lord Trimble, she explained that a major concern was the ability for non-governmental organisations to use |the laws.

“There are some good elements in the report but I objected to the entirety of it because if you look at the proposals around implementation I felt I could not agree to those elements,” she said.

“Under the Human Rights Act people need to be victims or perceived victims.

“Under the Bill |people with sufficient interest may bring proceeding.

“To me that allows not just the Human Rights Commission but Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to bring an action.”

Lady Trimble told the committee she would urge any Bill of Rights to be “tightly drawn” as the 80 proposals currently being considered could be divisive.

The commission, led by Monica McWilliams, handed over its report to the Government last November despite Lady Trimble and DUP councillor Jonathan Bell refusing to sign up to it.

Lady Trimble said: “I and my fellow dissenter asked for permission for a minority report and that consent was refused.

“I felt it was import to stay within the commission. The Bill of Rights is not the only work in the commission, there was a lot of good work I felt I could make a contribution to.”