Peter Robinson has prepared the ground for finalising a deal on the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont — but again has given no date for a deal.

In a carefully constructed speech to the DUP's annual conference, he clearly signalled his intention to complete the handover of responsibility for police, prisons and the courts system from Westminister, while insisting it can only happen on his party's terms.

One paragraph of the address, however, added only a few hours before his confident delivery to a packed gathering, warned Sinn Fein against attempting to “destabilise” the Assembly and Executive over the vexed issue, and pointedly went on: “Threatening the DUP is just dumb.”

While toning down the normal rhetoric of DUP events, Mr Robinson also directly threw back the language of recent Sinn Fein criticism — in which he has been challenged to display leadership and been accused of looking over his shoulder at hardline Jim Allister's Traditional Unionist Voice.

He said Sinn Fein “have to show leadership and stop looking over one shoulder at (the SDLP's) Alex Attwood and over the other at the dissidents” and further argued it seemed unlikely that even republicans now believe a united Ireland will happen in their lifetimes.

But in a subtly worded section the First Minister also moved to argue unionists should not be attempting “to cut off their noses to spite their faces” over the policing and justice controversy.

“Because republicans have lately come to want what we ourselves have sought for generations some say is reason enough for unionists to stay away.

“(But) the return of policing and justice powers to Stormont is of huge symbolic significance, and it is especially so for unionists.

“That which is good for the Union is not diminished by the policy improvisations or tactical manoeuvres of others.”

Mr Robinson also stressed, though, that the failure of the Government to listen to DUP concerns, following the recent public confrontation with new PSNI chief constable Matt Baggott over retention of the Full Time Reserve, would have “inevitable consequences” for timing.

In the second keynote speech of the day, deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the party had made sure that republicans had recognised the police and earlier this year when PSNI Constable Stephen Carroll was murdered by republicans, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness had called them traitors.

“It was said there would be no safeguards on a justice ministry and no additional resources for policing. The DUP secured those safeguards and resources. This record is why the DUP can be trusted to lead unionism into the future,”he said.

Responding, Mr Allister said: “I look forward to he next electoral challenge when again the electorate will have the opportunity to judge the DUP on their stewardship.

“They will be judged by their deeds, including the ‘delivery' of their coalition with Sinn Fein and their abuse of double/triple jobbing and expenses.They know it and that is why today they hit out so venomously at those who would dare to spoil the party with Sinn Fein.”