The process of restoring the political institutions in Northern Ireland is now "unstoppable", Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said today.
He was speaking in Dublin as the party unveiled its health platform for the general election.
Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin
Asked whether he shared the view of Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte that there is potential for problems to arise during the "incubation period" between now and May 8th, when the powersharing government is to be formed, Mr McGuinness said: "I don't doubt that there are people out there who are hostile to the process, and they are very much a very tiny minority who would seek to create problems.
"But it is my firm view that they are not going to deflect any of us from the course that we have set," he added.
"Ian Paisley has signed up very publicly, sitting shoulder to shoulder with our party leader Gerry Adams, for the restoration of these institutions come May 8th.
"I believe that's unstoppable. I believe it's going to happen and I believe that's the will of the people of Ireland to see that happen and to see politicians move on decisively to complete the work of peace and to build institutions which are undoubtedly, overwhelmingly in the interest of all of the people of Ireland," Mr McGuinness added.
He said: "Clearly there are people within the DUP, but they are a minority, who have set their face against this process, and some of them have resigned from the DUP in the course of the recent while.
"It's not my job or responsibility to talk about the internal politics of what's happening within the DUP except to say that we have not a good news story, a great news story, in the event, momentous as it was, last Monday.
Sinn Féin's ardcomhairle is meeting in Dublin today to discuss the political process in the North and also its strategy for the general election.