Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that the re-establishment of a devolved powersharing government in Northern Ireland next March would boost economic progress there.
Speaking in London at the annual conference of the Confederation of British Industry, Mr Ahern said there was no reason why the Celtic Tiger could not be an all-island phenomenon.
The Taoiseach said that he was in negotiation with the British treasury about a potential package that could help both economies, North and South, and that it would be an important part of the new National Development Plan.
Earlier, the DUP leader Ian Paisley confirmed that if certain conditions were met, he would become First Minister in a power-sharing administration with Sinn Féin.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Mr Paisley said: 'I will do my duty and I will do my best to serve all parts of the population.
He said he had 'a good rapport with people from all parts of the island and we deserve better things'.
The assembly resumed its sitting this morning after it was suspended on Friday.
At the resumed session, Mr Paisley was accused of being prepared to sell out on unionist principles.
The Independent UK Unionist Assembly member, Bob McCartney, asked was 'enforced coalition with Sinn Féin what the men and women of the security forces and the unionist community had died and suffered for?'.
He called the DUP a born-again pro-Belfast Agreement party and warned that similar policies brought electoral disaster on the Ulster Unionist Party under David Trimble.
This morning's session was concluded in less than 25 minutes.
Security staff praised
The Assembly speaker paid tribute to the Stormont security staff for their actions when loyalist Michael Stone was detained at the front door of Parliament buildings last Friday.
Assembly members faced increased security measures as they arrived to resume discussions.
Two PSNI officers stood inside the front entrance of Parliament Buildings, just yards away from where Michael Stone was wedged in a door by security staff when he tried to launch an attack last Friday.
Assembly security guards were also positioned in the grounds of the Stormont estate.
The Assembly speaker, Eileen Bell, told MLAs that, having been briefed by PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde and one of his assistant chief constables, it was clear there was a very real danger of loss of life or serious injury on Friday.
She said the devices that were defused may have been crude in nature but were nonetheless life-threatening for that.
