Reflecting on a "remarkable" first year of devolution, the Sinn Fein man said people are always asking him for highlights, but it was the small things that often stood out – such as a recent Paisley visit to Cork, where the DUP leader was jeered by hardline republican protestors.

End division

Mr McGuinness said: "What really struck me about his trip to Cork was, I am told, that several dozen Republican Sinn Fein protestors protested against his visit, and when that happened, I sat back and just thought to myself who is doing more to end division on this island? Ian Paisley or the so-called Republican Sinn Fein protestors?

"And I said give me Ian Paisley anytime."

Cordial

The Deputy First Minister, revealed he and the First Minister got on from their first meeting.

"He totally threw me when he said 'I think one of the first things we should do is tell British direct rule minister Peter Hain to get out of Stormont Castle' and within 20 minutes we had signed our first joint letter together," said the Deputy First Minister.

"Four days later Peter Hain and his officials had left the castle and, in going, even took the lightbulbs with them. And that's not a made-up yarn.

Progress

"What that said to me was that the DUP, led by Ian Paisley, wanted to be in a process, where decisions were taken here by people who live here and represent people here, and that there was a resentment against being told what to do by direct rule ministers.

And that is something where I think there is common cause between the DUP and ourselves."

The Sinn Fein MLA will soon be swapping partnership with Paisley, for Peter Robinson.