Differences remain between the Northern parties concerning the peace process despite their unanimity over the need for an end to paramilitary violence.
In press conferences outside Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, following their talks, they outlined their key demands, many of them in direct conflict with other parties.
For the Democratic Unionists, Mr Peter Robinson made a direct call for exclusion of Sinn Féin.
The East Belfast MP said: "The process should go on, and they have a far better chance of getting the IRA to do something if they tell the IRA: 'You are on the outside until you do it.
"If you want to be part of this process you have to divvy up'."
He also made it clear that the party was serious about concluding a deal which would see the return of devolution.
The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, said he expected an early report by the Independent Monitoring Commission into the Bobby Tohill incident.
He suggested an alternative sanction to exclusion if it proved the IRA was involved.
"In the event of there being a negative report by the monitoring commission on any paramilitary organisation, then the recognition of that organisation's ceasefire should be withdrawn, and the Northern Ireland Office should be prepared to examine on a case-by-case basis whether members of that organisation who benefited from early releases should return to prison," he said.
The Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, in turn criticised the attention shown to alleged IRA activity and criticised unionists for not engaging in talks.
He said the DUP had ignored Sinn Féin's invitation to talks on Dr Paisley's "Devolution Now" proposals published last month.
The West Belfast MP renewed the call for face-to-face negotiations.
"We want to believe that unionism wants this process to work, so we are open to be convinced and want to explore the DUP's position," he said.
He added: "I wrote to Mr Paisley shortly after the election, and I haven't yet got a reply."
The SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, said the Belfast Agreement path must be adhered to by all sides.
"There must be no more questions about other parties' intentions or positions, whether it is on the issue of paramilitarism or the full workings of the institutions or the full delivery and full participation of all other aspects of the agreement on things like human rights agenda, the policing arrangements or anything else," he said.