Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness says Stormont 'safe'

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Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said Northern Ireland's political institutions are safe.

Last week, Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said Stormont was in crisis, which led to speculation the assembly could fall.

Speaking in County Donegal, Mr McGuinness said that was not going to happen.

He said he would not be "part of any agenda that sees the institutions collapse".

He told reporters: "There's been a lot of scaremongering in the course of recent times, a lot of debate around the word 'crisis.'

"I hear some people speculating the institutions could fall.

"The institutions are not going to fall. These institutions are the peoples' institutions.

"They were formed as a result of the Good Friday and St Andrews agreements and our duty is to ensure that those people who have confidence in those institutions - and they are the overwhelming majority - see those institutions move on.

"Yes, there will be difficulties; there will be challenges; there will be problems, but the institutions won't fall. I certainly won't be part of any agenda that sees the institutions collapse."