The North’s First Minister Peter Robinson last night resisted calls to stand down and insisted he had done nothing wrong in relation to the alleged financial wrongdoings of his wife, Iris.
Mr Robinson said he had been unaware of some of the disclosures in a BBC Spotlight programme around his wife's affair with a young Belfast businessman Kirk McCambley and of how she procured £50,000 to help Mr McCambley take over the Lock Keeper's Inn in south Belfast.
In an interview with The Irish Times, Mr Robinson said he still wanted to save his marriage while indicating that the fresh disclosures had made that more difficult.
He accepted that he knew about the £50,000 his wife obtained from two businessmen, adding that he took action to ensure the money was returned.
He rejected the programme’s allegation that he was in breach of parliamentary rules by not reporting his wife’s actions over the money.
As Mr Robinson battles to save his political life, concerns have been raised by the Irish and British governments that the situation could undermine the powersharing structures at Stormont. Taoiseach Brian Cowen discussed the issue by phone with British prime minister Gordon Brown last night, while Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin assessed the implications of the issue with Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward.
This morning Mr Woodward refused to speculate about Mr Robinson’s future.
But he said: “It is a responsibility on everyone in the Assembly to understand that the consequences of allowing the political process to slide would undoubtedly have an impact on the broader canvas.
“And that if anybody were to be selfish enough to think this is a moment when that can be allowed to be put in the deep freeze, even some may wish to unpick, they would be extremely irresponsible, foolish and would be playing very, very dangerous games.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Woodward said that the First Minister had to be allowed the opportunity to clear his name.
But he went on: “I’m very conscious of the fact that while all that is happening, he is First Minister and the business of devolution, the business of the Executive must go on.
“I hope he will be able to resume the responsibilities as First Minister to ensure that the work of the Executive continues and that includes the talks on policing and justice devolution.”
Additional reporting PA