Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis has ruled out calling an early election for the Stormont Assembly.
Sinn Féin had called on him to bring forward the poll scheduled for May 5 after the Executive collapsed last week when the DUP's Paul Givan quit as First Minister.
Mr Lewis said "it is right" that the election takes place on May 5.
He told the BBC it was close to the start of the formal election period already.
"The Assembly under the new rules can continue to function, it's right we allow MLAs time and space to pass legislation, I'll be working to support the parties to do that and then we can have an election on 5 May," he said.
On Monday, legislation aimed at protecting the Assembly from collapse passed its final stage at Westminster.
The Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill will allow for the Assembly to continue without a functioning Executive for at least six months.
It also means the Secretary of State cannot call an election after the resignation of the first or deputy first minister for six weeks, extending the period from the previous seven days.
MPs passed amendments to the bill from the House of Lords including one which allows for the legislation to be applied retrospectively, meaning it is due to cover Mr Givan's resignation.
The bill is expected to receive royal assent later this week.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Office minister Conor Burns has said Mr Givan's resignation "will not fundamentally alter" the UK's negotiations with the EU over the Brexit protocol.
Mr Burns said the government "profoundly regrets" the DUP move in protest over the Irish Sea trading arrangements and "urged the DUP to get the first minister back in".
He told the Northern Ireland Affairs committee the withdrawal of the First Minister "will not fundamentally alter the government's determination to carry on engaging with the (European) commission to find resolution".
Mr Burns said he noted a "degree of positioning" ahead of the Assembly elections.
He said he believed there would be a "very different reaction" from parties if they were two or more years away from the next election.
