McGuinness 'optimistic' that power-sharing will go ahead

Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness has said he is hopeful that a power-sharing executive can be formed in the North by the March 26 deadline.

Martin McGuinness said the DUP have a big decision to make between now and then.

He said he believed that this week's Assembly elections have shown that people in the North want the power-sharing institutions restored, with Sinn Féin and the DUP at the helm.

Speaking in Dublin, Martin McGuinness said he hopes Ian Paisley will recognise the benefits of agreeing to go into government with his party:

"The DUP obviously have a big decision to make over the course of the coming period, just as we have made big decisions ourselves throughout the course of this process," he said.

"They have a huge decision to make. I would have to say that I'm optimistic the Ian Paisley will recognise the huge benefits there are for everyone by making this decision."