MacGill Summer School: He was speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal, where Mr Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein also spoke about prospects for progress.
The Democratic Unionist party MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, expressed confidence last night that the deadlock in the Northern Ireland peace process could be broken in the autumn.
He said that while much work remained to be completed on the differences that existed, "we believe the forthcoming negotiations in the autumn provide the basis for a deal that would see the creation of an accountable assembly and executive working for the benefit of all the people in Northern Ireland".
Mr Donaldson said that just as a totally changed environment in Northern Ireland, in terms of the end of paramilitarism, could assist in creating stable and lasting political institutions, a virtuous rather than vicious circle could be created.
"The end of paramilitarism will have implications for security in Northern Ireland and for the lives of people who are most affected by the activities and consequences of such groups. With politics working and violence a thing of the past, real issues can be the central focus of political life in Northern Ireland. We may not always agree but at least we will have created a framework for resolving our differences."
Just as peace was essential for a stable and successful future, so, too, was the requirement that institutions had widespread support in Northern Ireland, said Mr Donaldson. "That has been a clear lesson from the last 30 years in Northern Ireland. Time and again we have witnessed political institutions fall because they have lacked the support of one section of the community or other.
"There may have been other short-term issues which have precipitated the fall of arrangements but the underlying message is clear. Unionist and nationalist support is needed if political arrangements are to last."
Nobody knew the future shape of Europe or other international alliances, he said, but it was fair to say, on the basis of the most recent census figures for Northern Ireland, that there was no reason to believe there would be any change in its status within any period which they had planned for.
"The notion of a United Ireland by 2016 may well serve some purpose as a rallying call for republicans but I think that long before such a time line has passed it will become obvious that this particular goal will not be achieved."
He said the task which lay ahead for everybody in the North, regardless of their long-term aspirations, was to build a better society, not as part of a single island unit but conscious of the fact that they all shared the same island. "It is reasonable to assume that any society emerging from a period of conflict will have democratic arrangements which may be appropriate for that time but that might not be appropriate for all time. Arrangements which are appropriate in the context of an emergency from conflict may be unnecessary long after the conflict has ended," he said.
Mr McGuinness said Sinn Féin believed completely in the need to build relationships with Unionism.
"The result of the November election and the more recent European election brought a new political reality. Sinn Féin and the DUP are now the main political parties in the North. But this new reality must bring a new political realism. It certainly places a huge responsibility on the two governments, the DUP and Sinn Féin to act responsibly to find a way forward."
Mr McGuinness said the best way to do this was through direct dialogue, including between the DUP and Sinn Féin. He warmly welcomed Mr Donaldson's presence at the summer school and his willingness to debate their political differences in an open and direct way.
Mr Dermot Nesbitt of the Ulster Unionists said his party had genuinely tried to convince nationalists and republicans there would be a fair deal for all within Northern Ireland, that they had a stake in Northern Ireland and would play an important role at each level of government. "Equally, nationalists and republicans must convince us they will work within the institutions of government in Northern Ireland and in the context of a peaceful environment."