Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has said he believes that Christmas is the deadline for agreement at the political negotiations involving the Stormont Executive parties.
The DUP leader said he is hopeful that compromises will be found in the discussions.
The discussions include problems left unresolved after last year's Haass negotiations.
Also on the agenda is welfare reform and the carve up of Stormont's reduced annual budget.
In recent weeks Northern Ireland's Secretary of State Theresa Villiers and Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan have represented the British and Irish governments in the talks.
However, it is expected that British Prime Minister David Cameron and Taoiseach Enda Kenny will get involved early next month.
The envoy appointed by the US Administration, retired senator Gary Hart, is also due to return to Northern Ireland next month.
Speaking after his party's annual party conference, Mr Robinson said he hopes the DUP will recapture the east Belfast seat it lost to Naomi Long of the Alliance party in the 2010 Westminster elections.
He was the DUP MP who lost that contest.
A former Mayor of Belfast, 29 year old Belfast City Councillor, Gavin Robinson, will be the DUP's candidate for the May election.
He is not related to Peter Robinson but they are associated with the pragmatic wing of the party.
The DUP leader said the unstable nature of British politics could leave the DUP in an influential position after the Westminster elections when a new government is being formed.
At present the DUP has eight MPs and Mr Robinson said the party will consider giving its support as part of an arrangement that would best suit the interests of Northern Ireland.
In terms of his own future as leader, Mr Robinson said "when I decide to stand down will be dependent on all the circumstances around."
He also said he was not being pushed aside and there are no people lining up to take over what is a difficult job.
