Mr Jeffrey Donaldson of the Democratic Unionist Party was upbeat last night about a resolution of the impasse in the Northern peace process.
Addressing the Ógra Fianna Fáil conference in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, Mr Donaldson declined to be drawn on recent developments, but said: "One thing that is clear from the position that we find ourselves in today is that very significant progress has been made towards a lasting political resolution.
"Obviously, I am not in a position to make any detailed comments about the contents of the paper given to us by the government, but people will know from our published documents and stated manifesto positions what we require.
"The DUP has gone to the electorate on this basis and is happy to be judged by it at the next election."
He added that, while the Ulster Unionist Party leadership had gone back on its word in the past, the DUP would honour its commitments.
"Indeed, by its comments in recent days, all the UUP has done is to signal and highlight its irrelevance to the political process," Mr Donaldson said.
"There is only a creeping realisation and recognition that we could be on the verge of a historic breakthrough, far in advance of anything achieved by David Trimble and the UUP.".
