Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have both arrived back at Hillsborough Castle, where talks to save Northern Ireland's power-sharing government have continued for an eighth day.
The First Minister and Deputy First Minister had earlier left the talks to go to Stormont to brief party members on the situation at Hillsborough.
Negotiations on the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont resumed this morning between the parties and the British and Irish governments.
Despite the delay in reaching an agreement, both parties are hopeful that a deal can be reached.
The announcement of a deal appeared close yesterday, but it is believed that hardline elements within the DUP Assembly party were not satisfied with its proposals.
Stormont Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has declined to comment on whether there were threats to resign at the DUP meeting yesterday.
DUP Deputy leader Nigel Dodds has rejected speculation that Mr Robinson’s leadership was called into question at the party’s meeting yesterday.
‘I want to brand the malicious comments from some quarters about Peter Robinson's leadership of the party as pure fabrication and invention,’ said Mr Dodds.
‘Peter is a first class unionist leader and enjoys the full support of the party. Contrary to media reports on the meeting, there were no Assembly members threatening to resign from the party.’
East Derry DUP MP Gregory Campbell said the party had enjoyed a 'healthy debate' over a range of issues in the Assembly group.
Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey said the team at Stormont had been briefed by Martin McGuinness.
Mr Maskey admitted that there were some outstanding issues to be decided.
‘There are not that many, they are not that major, we believe that we can do that quickly. We are only concerned about the leadership given by the DUP in reaching agreement with ourselves,’ he said.
‘We are satisfied that a deal can be concluded, the deal needs to be concluded quite quickly and our focus is entirely on making sure the good work and progress that has been made in recent days can be built upon.’
He denied Sinn Féin was under any pressure from any quarter but said he understood the public's anxiety that a solution be reached.
He added: ‘Our focus is making sure we can get a deal. We would not be talking at Hillsborough or anywhere else if we didn't believe that there was a prospect of getting a positive outcome.
‘We believe there is a prospect of getting a deal, we are there to get that.’
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin remained in Hillsborough last night to assist both parties with ongoing discussions.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, meanwhile, remains on standby to travel to Northern Ireland if there is a breakthrough.
Mr Cowen briefed Cabinet on the talks in Stormont and Hillsborough this morning.
