Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells his party's conference that the DUP's opposition to post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland "has not changed"
The DUP withdrew from Northern Ireland's power-sharing government 18 months ago as part of a protest at those rules
However he adds that the party believes in devolved government in Northern Ireland
Sir Jeffrey tells conference delegates that it is an "essential" part of building a "positive case for the union"
Earlier, he opened his speech by saying the party stands "firmly with Israel" in the ongoing conflict with Gaza
This was Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's second conference as party leader
That's all from us. Thank you for following our live coverage of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's second conference speech as DUP leader.
You can follow our latest coverage of his address here.
Image source, PacemakerKey points in Sir Jeffrey's speech:
Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent
This was never going to be a speech that laid out any sort of timeline for a DUP decision.
It was very much a holding statement intended to cover all bases.
But if you listened carefully there were soft clues about where the party leader seems to want the DUP to go.
It was no coincidence that there was a reference to the St Andrews Agreement - signed 17 years ago this weekend - that first brought the DUP into power-sharing government with Sinn Féin.
And Sir Jeffrey Donaldson followed it up by spelling out to those in his party that it’s direct rule which will do the most damage to the unionist cause.
But don’t read it as done that the DUP could yet return to devolution: laying the ground is just one of the many hurdles Sir Jeffrey will have to pass if he wants his party to back an eventual offer.
Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent
Power-sharing is "essential" for securing Northern Ireland's future within the UK, the DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.
Party members gathered in Belfast to hear the Sir Jeffrey Donaldson address their annual conference.
The DUP walked out of power-sharing at Stormont 18 months ago in protest over post-Brexit trade rules.
Sir Jeffrey said he still believes in devolved government and making Northern Ireland work for everyone.
"Having no say in our future will not be a recipe for success," he told delegates.
"If we want to make the positive case for the union, then having local institutions that succeed in delivering for everyone in Northern Ireland is an essential element in building our case."
Read Jayne's full report on Sir Jeffrey's conference speech here.
"I want us to rebuild relationships that have been strained in recent times and to restore a level of confidence across the community," Sir Jeffrey tells delegates as he concludes his address.
Repeating his message on the Windsor Framework, he adds: "But first we must ensure we prevail on the most fundamental of issues – protecting our rightful place in the union.
"Then we must set about restoring the cross-community consensus that is essential for the political institutions to be re-established and for them to sustainably succeed."
Sir Jeffrey tells the conference he still believes in devolved government.
"This party still believes in having locally elected representatives take decisions in the best interest of our people," he says.
He adds that "if we want to make the positive case for the union then having local institutions that succeed in delivering for everyone in Northern Ireland is an essential element in building our case".
Sir Jeffrey continues: "To those who argue that direct rule is a better option I say this: Time and again, Westminster has imposed laws upon us that are not in tune with the needs or wishes of the people of Northern Ireland."
Image source, Liam McBurney/PAThe DUP was right to oppose the government’s legacy bill because the party believes "that the path to reconciliation is not made easier by the denial of justice", Sir Jeffrey says.
He adds: "This party will continue to speak up for our courageous men and women who put on the uniform of the crown to protect us all from the evil of terrorism that stalked our land.
"This party will continue to stand up for all the innocents who have suffered from those long, dark years of terrorism."
The DUP leader says building peace and stability in Northern Ireland has been a "long and often frustrating process", but that it is in a "better place for having undertaken that journey".
He continues: "The next few years will be difficult and painful as we embark on the next part of our journey involving a re-examination of our troubled past, a legacy formed of years of misery and suffering and now one tainted by the denial of justice to those who lost their loved ones."
The DUP leader tells the conference: "We have a clear mandate to take the necessary political action to resolve the issues that confront us because we have campaigned to secure arrangements that restore our place within the United Kingdom.
"New arrangements must be capable of commanding the support of unionists as well as nationalists," he says.
As discussions with the government continue, Sir Jeffrey says: "We are making progress but there remains more work to do.
"I am hopeful that remaining concerns can be addressed as quickly as possible."
Image source, Liam McBurney/PAThe DUP's view on the Northern Ireland Protocol and the Windsor Framework "has not changed", Sir Jeffrey outlines.
"Despite the misguided analysis of some, and the prejudiced commentary from others who have always cheer-led for the original Protocol, we have remained focused on our aims and objectives, determined to secure further progress at this time," he says.
Sir Jeffrey adds the government must "undo the harm" caused by the Protocol and "remedy the delicate political imbalances so devastatingly upset over the last few years".
Sir Jeffrey says he has asked the government to establish a new "East-West Council" to bring together representatives from across the UK.
"This would include Northern Ireland, the UK Government, and others from across our nation and its regions to meet on a regular basis to discuss and collaborate on opportunities for enhanced co-operation," he explains.
"I believe in the United Kingdom because I believe it is best placed to improve the lives of all our people, because of the long-term economic strength and firepower that it brings, because of the National Health Service, and because the UK alone will preserve and protect our way of life."
Sir Jeffrey tells the party's conference that the DUP received a "resounding mandate from the unionist people" in the May council elections because "people knew what we stood for".
He adds the party "stuck by what we stood for".
"We knocked on thousands of doors and spoke to countless people," he continues.
"We sought a mandate to re-establish the Northern Ireland Assembly on a fair and sustainable basis by finishing the job of protecting Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom and its internal market."
Sir Jeffrey starts his conference address by saying his party supports Israel in its right to defend itself after last weekend's attack by Hamas.
Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October, killing at least 1,300 people, and taking scores of hostages.
More than 1,400 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory air strikes and a ground offensive is also expected.
The DUP leader says: "Our hearts go out to all who have suffered loss or who are living with the uncertainty of what will happen to their loved ones being held captive.
"They can be assured of our prayers at this time."
You can watch Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s conference speech by hitting the play icon at the top of this page.
Brendan Hughes
BBC News NI political reporter
Attendees at the DUP conference receive a 32-page conference booklet called ‘Lions Roar’, which includes messages from party members.
In his article, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson gives delegates an update on talks with the UK government over the party’s concerns with the Windsor Framework.
He says discussions "have not reached an end point" and "no deal is on the table".
In a call for unionist unity, he adds: “Those on the fringes of the unionist family who have attempted to sow the seeds of discontent at a critical stage in negotiations do not act with the best interests of the union at heart.
“This is not a time for acts of self-harm or sabotage. It is a time to stand together."
Gareth Gordon
BBC News NI Political Correspondent
The DUP are back at their favourite hotel for another mini-break.
Hopefully, from their perspective, without the bust-up which marked a previous one at the same venue more than two years ago.
That was over leadership with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson eventually emerging as victor after a three-week feud whose scars have never fully healed.
His reward? Getting to steer the party through its issue with the Westminster government over an Irish sea border which has seen it boycott the Stormont institutions.
Today, the DUP family gathers once more in the same room where Paul Givan announced his resignation as first minister.
Since then the party has had room service on tap from the government, but so far nothing has been to its liking.
Expect more orders from the platform. But last orders? It doesn’t feel like closing time yet.
That is: Will the DUP be returning to Stormont?
Twenty months after Paul Givan resigned as first minister in February 2022, Northern Ireland is still without a functioning Stormont executive.
The party’s refusal to back the nomination of a Speaker is also blocking the day-to-day workings of the assembly.
Sir Jeffrey and his colleagues are protesting against the post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland contained in the Northern Ireland Protocol and more recently the Windsor Framework. These were agreed between the UK government and the EU.
Image source, PacemakerSir Jeffrey says the government has not honoured its commitments to NI
The DUP is seeking legislative change at Westminster after additional checks were placed on some goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
They argue the agreements have undermined Northern Ireland’s position in the UK’s internal market.
Other parties have urged the DUP to return to Stormont, in particular at a time of cost-of-living and budgetary crises.
Read more about the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework here.
Welcome to our live coverage of the DUP's conference.
We will bring you live coverage of leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s speech to delegates at a hotel in south Belfast shortly.