MARTIN McGuinness plans to remain as the north's deputy first minister until at least 2021 – his health permitting.
The Sinn Féin MLA told The Irish News that he would continue in Stormont's joint top job as long as he was fit and had the drive to do it.
There has been speculation that 66-year-old Mr McGuinness could step down in the latter half of the assembly's current five-year term.
Among the favourites to succeed the veteran Foyle MLA, who has been first minister for nearly a decade, are former Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy.
However, when asked if he planned to serve the full term, Mr McGuinness said he aimed to do so.
"If my health holds up, and I think I'm as energetic as any 20 year-old, I intend to do my best to ensure that I serve out the full term – absolutely," he told The Irish News.
"But it's all dependent on your health and on whether you have the drive to do it. I certainly have the drive to do it but nobody knows what their health's going to like the next day but I am absolutely committed to do it."
A self-professed IRA activist in the 1970s, Mr McGuinness was MP for Mid-Ulster from 1997 until his resignation in 2013.
He remained an MLA for the constituency but chose to run in his home city in last month's assembly election.
He was elected in Foyle alongside Raymond McCartney, however, the party's other sitting MLA in the constituency, Maeve McLaughlin, lost her seat.
In his inaugural year as deputy first minister, Mr McGuinness formed a lasting friendship with one-time adversary and then First Minister Ian Paisley.
The pair's good natured rapport earned them the nickname the 'chuckle brothers'.
His relationship with Mr Paisley's successor Peter Robinson was less warm, though the two leaders did manage to work together, albeit with limited outcomes.
He is now working in coordination with a third DUP leader, Arlene Foster.
