DUP leader Ian Paisley has still not clearly indicated if he will share power with Sinn Féin by the March 26 deadline set down by the British government.
Speaking after talks with Northern Secretary Peter Hain today, Mr Paisley said good progress was being made and he was confident he could move further forward following his party's success in the recent Assembly election.
However, it remains unclear if the DUP will agree to enter a power-sharing Executive with Sinn Féin in two weeks' time.
The British government is insisting that devolution will be scrapped and Northern politicians will stop getting paid if this deadline is not met.