DUP MLA Simon Hamilton has said the prospects of devolution returning to Northern Ireland in the short-term are bleak.

Mr Hamilton placed the blame for the failure to restore the power-sharing institutions on Sinn Fein's behaviour in recent months.

The Strangford MLA made the comments when appearing before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster this morning.

"I have to say, and it gives me no pleasure, I think the prospects of a return to devolution in the short term are bleak," he told the committee.

He said there were three reasons for this, firstly the "intransigence of Sinn Fein and their drawing of red lines and being unwilling to shift."

Secondly, he criticized Sinn Fein's recent behaviour including the "constant eulogising of terrorists".

"Many would have thought 20 years on they would have changed their behaviour in respect of past," Mr Hamilton said.

"Nobody is being asked to forget, but naming an office after two IRA terrorists is a slap in the face to innocent victims, not a sign of good intent."

Lastly Mr Hamilton criticized Sinn Fein's conduct in the media in recent weeks.

"After the breakdown of the latest talks, there have been selective leakings and briefings and it does not fill me with any confidence they are serious about restoring the instituions.

"There was an issue before the recent talks process of whether they were serious in getting devolution up and running again, their behaviour in recent days shows me they are not serious."

"It does not fill me with hope that in the short-term Stormont will be back up and running again," he concluded.

It was noted that Sinn Fein were invited to give evidence to the committee but had declined.

Belfast Telegraph