The Democratic Unionist Party has said it favours the eventual devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont but only when there is "sufficient confidence".
Junior Minister Ian Paisley jnr said yesterday his party wants to see a local justice minister but called on republicans to build the necessary trust among unionists.
In that event he said his party would not be "reluctant to give leadership" on the issue.
Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward used his new year message to state that the British government would stick to the May target date for the devolution of justice. But this was quickly criticised by First Minister Ian Paisley, who said his party held a veto on such a development and insisted the Assembly would decide.
"Before parliament would vote to amend the legislation to devolve the powers, the First Minister would have to agree to such a move and the Assembly would have to ratify it. We are a long way from that point," Dr Paisley said.
Sinn Féin is particularly keen that justice powers are returned to Northern Ireland by May under the terms of the St Andrews Agreement of 2006. The DUP has repeatedly said it supports the idea in principle but is cautious about its timing.
The party has also stated as long ago as 2004 that no Assembly member with a paramilitary record should be considered for the job.
Mr Paisley jnr used an interview with BBC Northern Ireland at the weekend to argue that the timing of justice devolution had much to do with the actions of republicans.
"There are things that could be done at leadership level on all those practical issues," he said. "Whether it's the Quinn murder, the McCartney murder, the issues to do with Orange halls, all of those matters, and more. There could be more leadership expressed on those issues, seeing convictions, seeing that practically working itself out.
"People would then recognise that the commitment to policing, law and order, which has been made, is fulsome in what happens then, on the ground, and that's what we really want to see. At that point, there will be no reluctance from me to give leadership on those issues."