During the debate on security issues the Foyle MP referred to the BAFTA award winning series, which follows the work of a group of MI5 Officers working from the spy agencies Thames House headquarters in London.
He said: "One does not have to be a fan or watcher of programmes such as 'Spooks' to know that, in the past number of years, the concept of national security has widened in response to the development of serious threats, not only those of a terrorist nature but those involving an ever more sinister level of organised crime with increasing international dimensions."
Mr Durkan subsequently came under sustained attack from both DUP and Alliance MLAs. Dr Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party asked: "Will the Member clarify that the SDLP's approach to the Security Service is based on a wider range of empirical evidence than a TV programme?"
Mr Durkan replied: "Of course it is. I said that one does not have to be a watcher or fan of that programme to know that the concept of national security has widened.
"If the Member does not believe that that concept has widened and been employed by government, he is not listening to his sister party the Liberal Democrats. I said that one does not have to watch 'Spooks' to know that that is the case."
DUP MLA Simon Hamilton also contributed to the exchange stating: "We have been regaled with tales of how the Member for Foyle is scared witless every time he watches 'Spooks', and what those nasty men in the shadows might be doing and how they will change things."
And the redoubtable Mr Paisley Jnr said: "I despaired when I heard the Member for Foyle Mark Durkan's justification for his reasoning on exploring the amendments before the House, when he said that if one watched 'Spooks', one would be aware of how these matters operate."
The SDLP leader then claimed he never watches the hit BBC programme. "I clearly said that one does not have to watch or be a fan of 'Spooks' to know that the concept of national security has changed and expanded, and will do further I do not watch 'Spooks,'" he said.
But Mr Paisley Jnr jibed: "I am glad. He is more of an 'Austin Powers' man. If the Member wants to order a JCB and keep digging that hole, he can. He has shown political dexterity during the debate: he has changed horses, not in mid-flow, but mid-amendment and mid-sentence."
"Spooks" premiered on television in 2002 and the original series starred Matthew Macfadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Jenny Agutter and Peter Firth.
Since then a stellar line-up of guest stars has appeared on the programme including Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy, Tim McInnerny, Bruce Payne, Ian McDiarmid, Jimi Mistry, Andy Serkis, Andrew Tiernan, Anton Lesser, Anupam Kher, Alexander Siddig and Anthony Head.