DUP LEADER Peter Robinson has dismissed as "ludicrous" suggestions that Sinn Féin would attempt to disrupt his election as first minister by the Assembly on Thursday. Mr Robinson formally assumed the leadership of his party on Saturday as the Rev Ian Paisley stood down at a meeting of the DUP executive in Belfast.
In his first comments as party leader, Mr Robinson refused to countenance talk of Sinn Féin refusing to nominate Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister as must happen under Assembly rules. It is thought Sinn Féin may consider such a move as part of efforts to force unionists into devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont.
Mr Robinson also used his first public comments as leader to raise again the prospect of unionist unity at the next election.
However, this was quickly rebuffed by Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey during an address to his party's agm which was also staged on Saturday.
Standing alongside the new DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds, Mr Robinson said of Sinn Féin: "The leadership that I will give will be in line with the leadership that Ian has given. That is the leadership that has seen an Assembly set-up, which the people of Northern Ireland support, which sees an economic future for the people far better than what we ever had under direct rule and I don't think that anybody would want to destroy the progress that has been made."
Referring to any possible Sinn Féin move to stymie his election as first minister by not nominating Mr McGuinness, he added in a conciliatory tone: "It would also stymie them. The idea that people are going to bring the houses down around themselves is so ludicrous, particularly when you have a leadership that wants to resolve outstanding issues, that wants to see progress being made.
"There's an awful lot we have to do as an Assembly and Executive, and indeed I have to say that there are many things that we should be doing that can be win-win," he said.
"Too often we look at things and say 'that's good for the unionist community' and 'that's good for the nationalist community'. There are things that are good for all of our people and we want to get down to the business of ensuring that we will make real progress."
Asked for his thoughts on any prospect of a united unionist movement Mr Robinson said he only opposed the Ulster Unionist Party "when it was wrong".
"I haven't seen from any of the positions they have adopted, that they are opposing the general direction of the DUP. In those circumstances I believe there is much we should be co-operating on, working together to advance the cause of unionism to ensure we can maximise the unionist vote and the return we get for that vote. If in the future that brings us so close together that we can have one organisation then so be it."
Asked if the devolution of policing and justice powers was simply reliant upon the disbandment of the IRA army council, Mr Robinson said he could not foresee Sinn Féin being given ministerial responsibility.
"We have put forward very practical proposals . . . There are people in west Belfast who believe I would not be the best person to take on the mantle of being a minister for policing and justice. Let's look and see if there's another way to get around the problem."
On becoming first minister "whenever that may be", he added "I will be happy to roll up my sleeves and deal as long as is necessary with all of these issues."