The governments in London and Dublin have expressed confidence the outstanding issues preventing devolution of policing powers to Northern Ireland can be overcome, despite the growing rift between the region's political leaders.

After meeting at Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday night, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward and the Foreign Minister Micheal Martin acknowledged the ongoing impasse between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists had created a difficult situation.

But both stressed that similar problems had been overcome on numerous occasions throughout the peace process, and said they believed the current ones would prove no different.

DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness are currently at loggerheads over the issue, with republicans angry that unionists have not yet given the green light to the transfer of powers from Westminster.

While Mr McGuinness has warned of dire consequences for the powersharing administration if progress has not been made by Christmas, Mr Robinson has insisted certain further steps still need to be taken before there is enough community confidence to support the move. Among these is a change to how contentious Orange parades are managed.

The positive joint message from the governments came less than 48 hours after Stormont's two leaders had a very public falling out during a news conference in Co Londonderry.

Mr Woodward said it was important to remember that despite their differences, the DUP and Sinn Fein were devolutionists in principle. He also noted that both have already agreed to a £1 billion funding package with the Treasury to support the region's new justice department. "It's clear to me that what we've got to recognise here is the shared sense of common purpose," he said.

Mr Martin said: "It's clear there are a remaining number of steps to be taken," he said. "If you were to take the politics out of it for a second it would appear to me to be entirely within the grasp of the parties to achieve a solution to this devolution question and to bring about an early devolution of policing and justice. I am hopeful that that can happen.

"Obviously both governments will work with the parties to support them in any way we can but obviously the parties have to come together as well and bring this about. We know the steps that have to be taken - it is entirely feasible that that can be done early."

Both ministers said it was not their job to set dates or deadlines and stressed the ultimate decision over devolution rested with Northern Ireland's politicians.