The Democratic Unionists are right to take their time over a deal to restore devolution in Northern Ireland, their deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson insisted tonight.
In a speech marking his reselection to defend his House of Commons seat, the East Belfast MP said his party was prepared to wait until it secured the right agreement for unionists and nationalists.
He also told republicans that the IRA needed to give unionists certainty in the event of any settlement that it had disarmed, with a visual aspect to decommissioning helping greatly.
And he moved to scotch rumours that there are three camps in his party, with North Belfast MP Mr Nigel Dodds leading a rebellion against a deal.
With the British and Irish governments' proposals for the Assembly due to be presented to the parties within the next week, Mr Robinson declared: "The DUP earnestly hopes that agreement can be reached in the next few weeks. "We will play a constructive part in attempting to reach such a conclusion but if it cannot we know the unionist community will hold the line and trust us to finish the job.
"We will not let all that has been achieved be lost by a premature dash for the finish line." At the end of the Leeds Castle talks in Kent two months ago, Prime Minister Tony Blair said he believed the IRA was poised to undertake groundbreaking moves on disarmament and on its future.
But Mr Robinson disputed claims that the IRA had made a definite offer during those talks. "At Leeds Castle an outline was given to us verbally by the (British) government in vague terms of what the IRA might be prepared to do," he said.
Mr Robinson tonight went on the offensive against a challenger for his Westminster seat, claiming he did not even have confidence in his own party.
The East Belfast MP attacked Ulster Unionist candidate Sir Reg Empey, claiming he had his finger prints over the Good Friday Agreement which had destroyed the Royal Ulster Constabulary and helped secure a place in government for terrorist representatives.
Mr Robinson, who accepted his party's nomination to run again for the Westminster seat he has held since 1979, said: "When I took over the parliamentary reins of this constituency, a quarter of a century ago, unionism was in retreat. "The UUP was doing what it does best - dithering and squabbling.
Sir Reg tonight, however, hit back, accusing the DUP of pursuing a strategy aimed at destroying the Ulster Unionists rather than Sinn Féin.
The East Belfast Assembly member also stood by his criticisms of the party last year and insisted that those were now being addressed.
"With regard to my view of the party internally, first of all I would say if one gives a document on a confidential basis and that is released, I think it reflects more on the person who releases it than the person who makes the comments in the document," he said.
"I must also add that I am pleased that many of the criticisms I expressed then have been addressed in the new rules agreed by the party and which will be implemented from January 1st next year.
"Far from me leading any plots within the party what I was trying to do was maintain party unity and I make no apology for doing that.