Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness has again warned against unionist demands for sanctions which are outside the terms of the Good Friday agreement.
Mr McGuinness was speaking from San Francisco where he took part in the St Patrick's Day parade.
Commenting on the peace process Mr McGuinness said that in the current phase of negotiations they had made substantial progress across all of the issues, including new legislation on criminal justice, demilitarisation, equality, human rights and Irish language rights.
Mr McGuinness said however that substantive gaps do remain on important issues.
"Discussions are continuing with the two governments and the other parties in a sustained effort to close these gaps. This is very much work in progress," he said.
"But one point of serious concern centres on the unionist demand for sanctions which are clearly outside the terms of the Agreement and which are clearly aimed at Sinn Féin."
