Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister says there has been a better atmosphere between himself and the First Minister since the recent Hillsborough agreement.
Speaking at a briefing for journalists at Stormont Castle this morning, Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson outlined the progress made on a range of issues since 5 February.
Mr Robinson also appealed for the wider community in the North to let the parties know, via correspondence, what their views on the Hillsborough agreement were.
Emphasising the significance of the agreement, which saw a date agreed for the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont, Mr McGuinness said he was hopeful that all parties would recognise their responsibilities.
Both the SDLP and the UUP have indicated their frustration with elements of the agreement and this morning Mr McGuinness claimed that, in some people's views, neither party was contributing to the ongoing process.
Mr McGuinness said that in his opinion there was strong support for the deal in nationalist and republican communities.
In a clear reference to the SDLP, he said that some people were missing the public mood but that was a matter for themselves.
The First Minister said that he had been out meeting people on the streets and agreed there was overwhelming public support for the agreement.
Referring to the marathon discussions held prior to his party signing up to a deal with Sinn Féin, he said he was making no apologies because it was right that they took the time to get the deal done.
Mr Robinson said that both the British and Irish governments had taken a back seat during these talks.
Claiming that the two governments had on previous occasions taken the lead in important talks, even putting forward the document themselves, Mr Robinson said there was no smoke and mirrors with the Hillsborough agreement.
He said both the DUP and Sinn Féin had 'rolled up their sleeves' and did it themselves.
He said that the deal was good for unionism and good for the whole community.
Referring to the four working groups, which were established under the recent agreement, Mr Robinson said that good progress was being made in that regard.
Referring to the pact between the Conservative party in the North and the UUP - Mr Robinson said that it would follow that Reg Empey would also be supportive of the agreement.
When asked about the Presbyterian Mutual Society - both the First and Deputy First Minister made it clear that their preferred option would be for a commercial bank to take it over.
They both made reference to a Plan B, which would involve British Treasury support and was described as a Northern Ireland solution, but would not give any more detail.
There was talk of a hardship fund being established to help those affected by the collapse of the Society but both Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness described this as a 'Plan C' option, which was a last resort.
In terms of corporation tax, both men said that they were continuing to push for the tax to be reduced in line with that in the Republic, with Mr McGuinness hinting that there might be movement on the issue.
