The DUP has rejected criticism that it now stands in the path of political progress in the North following the Leeds Castle talks. Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor, reports.
Mr Peter Robinson said he was "pained" at reports that the DUP leader had stood in the way of a deal in Kent at the weekend.
Referring to progress made at three days of intensive talks involving the two governments and all the Northern parties, he denied it was in the business of wrecking efforts to return devolved power to Stormont.
In an upbeat assessment, Mr Robinson said today's renewed talks at Stormont meant the "ball is still in play", and that all sides were in "an extra-time scenario".
He reiterated his party's commitment to finding a deal enabling the return of devolution, and said he did not seek to engineer any return to majority rule.
However, the East Belfast MP explained in detail that new Assembly structures would have to be found to realise the required accountability, stability and confidence his party believes are needed to ensure the durability of any restored institutions.
Mr Robinson denied claims by Mr Mark Durkan, the SDLP leader, that the DUP has "walked off with the jackpot without having put anything into the machine".
The DUP "wanted a fair deal, and a fair deal for everybody", and Mr Durkan was wrong to talk in terms of winners and losers.
He said the agenda at Leeds Castle covered four points. These were: "The decommissioning of all illegal weaponry; an end to all paramilitary activity; the issues relating to the handling of policing and justice matters; and there were the changes that were being sought in relation to the structures and institutions."
Referring to the final point concerning ministerial accountability, he added: "The suggestion that we are to be blamed because one of those matters had not been fully addressed seems to me to be absurd.
"We are not in the business of getting a quick and temporary fix to the issue. We are in the business of getting stable and lasting structures and institutions, and a peaceful and democratic way forward."
He said the DUP, having advised against a "high-wire act" style of negotiations, nonetheless "threw themselves into it".
His party was right in that it had proven too much for all four issues to be settled in one visit to the table.
Referring to questions of paramilitary activity, weapons decommissioning and policing, Mr Robinson said: "As far as the three issues we are told are effectively dealt with, let me make our position clear.
"The matter of guns is a matter for the IRA; the matter of ending their paramilitary and criminal activity is a matter for the IRA. In our discussions with the governments, we have made it clear what the expectation of the community is. We have made it clear what would give confidence to the unionist people."
He said if others wanted the DUP to respond positively on these questions then his party's requirement was "completion, completion, completion".
"That is what we have an electoral mandate to do, and no one should be surprised that the DUP would stand by its commitment."
He said that while the governments had provided indications on such paramilitary activity and decommissioning, "we have not seen text".
He said Dr Paisley was "too wily" to sign up to anything until he had seen something positive.