Mr Martin McGuinness, the Sinn Fein MP for Mid-Ulster, has described Mr David Trimble's Nobel speech as "narrow and disappointing". The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, asked why the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded when there was "no peace".
"The speech lacks any appreciation of the opportunities that now exist to move us out of conflict," Mr McGuinness said.
"He had little to say about ending the impasse and even less about the future. The speech showed no understanding of the efforts nationalists and republicans have made to create the current situation. In fact he was dismissive of Sinn Fein's efforts and abusive of republicans." Dr Paisley said the Nobel Prize should not have been awarded because there was no peace in Northern Ireland. "And we are not going to have peace when you have the British government releasing those who are intent on having violence on our streets," he said.