Paisley Snr 'should stay in post'

Mr Ahern said Mr Paisley had been "very influential"

Northern Ireland's First Minister Ian Paisley should stay in his job as long as possible, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has said.

Mr Ahern said he would like to see the 82-year-old DUP stay on, at least in the short-term.

He said Mr Paisley had been "very influential" in achieving power-sharing.

Speculation has been mounting about Mr Paisley's future plans since the resignation of his son, Ian Jnr.

Mr Ahern was speaking in Dublin after a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward on Thursday.

"I would personally like to see Dr Paisley remain on. It would be the view of the Irish government that he has been instrumental in bringing about incredible changes," he said.

"The DUP, like any other political party has its own internal machinations. It is a robust party and will make its own decisions in due course."

Mr Ahern said he didn't know if a short-term exit by Mr Paisley would affect stability in the assembly.

"There are many people in the DUP who are well able to lead the DUP," he added.

Among the issues discussed by Mr Ahern and Mr Woodward were this summer's marching season and the murder of south Armagh man Paul Quinn.