The Deputy First Minister said the Democratic Unionist leader's decision to step down from office and resign the leadership of his party marked the end of an era but not the end of the process of governing the North.

The Sinn Fein MP's comments come amid growing speculation that DUP deputy Peter Robinson will replace Mr Paisley in both roles without the necessity of a leadership contest.

Implacable enemies in the past, the former IRA member said working alongside the hard line unionist had been an enlightening experience.

"Obviously there's a lot of interest in the work I have been doing with Ian Paisley in the course of the last 10 months," he said at Stormont.

"I think I have to say it's been a remarkable and unique experience.

"I think many of you will know I had a very dim view of Ian Paisley prior to the 26th March last year (when Sinn Fein and the DUP agreed to share power) and I suppose he even had a dimmer view of me if we are to be truthful about all of this.

"But we managed to work together on foot of a deal brokered by Ian Paisley and leader of my party Gerry Adams and we developed a positive and constructive working relationship within the Office of First and Deputy First Minister."



The Mid Ulster representative, who was in Dubai when news of Mr Paisley's resignation broke, was speaking after he and the First Minister appeared before their Stormont scrutiny committee to face questions on unrelated business.

The pair attended the opening of a new shopping centre in Belfast last night in their first public appearance together since the announcement.

The two ministers were ushered quickly past waiting photographers as they emerged from the committee meeting. However, Mr McGuinness subsequently returned to field questions from the media.

Speaking in Stormont's Great Hall, the Deputy First Minister credited his ministerial colleague with playing a full part in changing the course of Irish history.

"I think this (the power-sharing arrangement) has been a good episode in the annals of history and I think there's no doubt whatsoever that the decisions taken by many people, not least by Ian Paisley, as we approached May 8th (devolution day in 2007) fundamentally changed the course of Irish history for the good and the better."

Mr McGuinness, whose genial rapport with the DUP leader has been cited as one of the reasons he faced criticism from hard-line unionists, said he was not expecting any significant cooling of relations with the DUP when Mr Paisley's successor takes over in May.

"Ian Paisley was supported right through this process by people like Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds (DUP Enterprise Minister) and others within the leadership of the DUP, so I think the community and the people who represent citizens in this House can expect the work of governing this part of the world will continue in the aftermath of Ian Paisley's departure from the political scene," he added.

The Sinn Fein MLA also refused to be drawn on whether he had ever shaken Mr Paisley's hand.

" I will leave the First Minister to answer that question," he said.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dail (Irish Parliament) the outgoing First Minister had helped leave a legacy of peace and hope in Northern Ireland.

"While history must be the judge of what was a very long and sometimes controversial career, I think today that we would reflect the huge courage and leadership he has shown in recent years and the legacy of peace and hope that he will leave for future generations," Mr Ahern said.