That position, the First Minister told about 500 energised party supporters gathered in the La Mon Hotel on the outskirts of Belfast, meant that when it needed to, the DUP could "apply the brake".

Observers not versed in the political scene would scarcely have known that the party shed almost half its votes less than six months ago and had taken a pummelling on its MPs' expenses, as on Saturday a confident group of activists spanning several generations were rallied for next year's General Election campaign.

The party, once an outsider in the political scene, now exudes a polished professionalism which none of its local opponents can rival and the eight-hour event included a workshop for party members on how to spread their message using new media.

Underpinning much of what Mr Robinson said during his address was the warning that holding out for a unionist utopia did not justify risking the relative peace which Northern Ireland now enjoys.

In a spirited defence of devolved government, he acknowledged that unionists could not accept that "every deal will be all gain and no pain", but said that his party was working to reform the Stormont structures.

And he said that peace was worth the painful sacrifices in negotiations.

"It wouldn't just be mad, it would be bad, and wicked beyond belief to knowingly consign future generations – our children and grandchildren – to more of the same violence and uncertainty which would unquestionably follow renewed political instability and conflict in our Province."

Speaking at the scene where one of the Troubles' worst atrocities occurred – the IRA's 1978 massacre of 12 people and mutilation of 30 others with a huge napalm-like bomb – Mr Robinson said that the decision to share power with the representatives of the bombers was difficult but right.

He did not mention it in his speech, but as a young Castlereagh councillor, Mr Robinson visited La Mon that night to see the carnage left by the incendiary device.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was later arrested as part of the investigation into the bombing, but released without charge.

Mr Robinson said of the decision to enter government with Mr Adams' party: "We didn't take the easy path. But we did take the right path.

"And why? It's simple.