The First Minister Peter Robinson has passionately defended the Hillsborough agreement, branding it a "good deal" for Northern Ireland, but hinted he would collapse the Assembly if Sinn Fein did not honour their commitments.
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"I can sell the deal as a good agreement", the DUP leader told UTV's Political Editor Ken Reid in an exclusive interview.
Read Ken Reid's blog: Waiting for Reg
Mr Robinson said he was satisfied the agreement guaranteed the independence of the Northern Ireland's judiciary and the operational independence of both the Chief Constable and the Policing Board.
Mr Robinson also said he was confident the soon-to-be appointed Justice Minister will be backed by "the whole of our community", after the DUP and Sinn Fein agreed not to nominate candidates from within their own ranks.
The non-aligned Alliance Party is considered the only one that could achieve the necessary cross-community backing in a vote scheduled for 9 March.
But leader of the Alliance Party David Ford said he is not yet in a position to nominate himself, insisting policies for the Department of justice should be agreed before he considers the position.
"Let's look at this positively; we're out there to ensure that we do get that support and I believe that we'll be able to carry people forward," Mr Robinson told UTV.
Explaining his previous reference to a "secret device" the DUP leader confirmed he "could bring down policing and justice by simply having an election and not appointing a justice minister."
"We all have the ability to bring down the institutions", Mr Robinson said.
Former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble famously triggered the suspension of the Assembly after resigning on the issue of IRA decommissioning.
In recent months, Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness repeatedly warned he was prepared to resign if an early date for the transfer of policing and justice powers wasn't set.
"Where does that leave us?" Mr Robinson asked.
"There's no part of me that wants to use such a device. It would only be used if there was bad faith on the part of those with whom I negotiated", he told UTV.
"I'm committed to carrying through my obligations. And Sinn Fein has plainly said that they intend to keep their commitments."
Earlier, an emotional Mr Robinson made a passionate case for backing the agreement in the chamber of Parliament Buildings as the first steps in implementing it got under way.
"Over these last months I have had plenty of drama in my life," he said.
"I could have walked away very easily - every brain cell and every blood cell cried out to me to watch from the sidelines rather than the frontline.
"I believe that what we are doing actually matters, that what we are trying to achieve in this Assembly is something for the betterment for all the people in Northern Ireland... if other people in this Assembly don't collectively agree with that, then quite frankly we'd all be far better packing our bags and going home."
Mr McGuinness also addressed the assembly, insisting his party would not shirk its responsibilities.
"It is much better to move forward in a positive vein than looking at the black side," he said.
"I travel with hope and optimism, I look on the bright side and whenever this party makes commitments, we are absolutely dedicated to keeping those commitments."
The Hillsborough deal unveiled last week states that policing and justice powers will be devolved on 12 April, with a resolution for a cross-community vote jointly tabled by the First and Deputy First Minister in the Assembly on 9 March.
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