Achieving the transfer of responsibility for policing and justice to the Northern Executive from British direct rule ministers will be a key political challenge for 2008, according to Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.
In his Christmas and new year message, Mr Adams identified the devolution of policing and justice powers and the creation of a bill of rights for Northern Ireland as two of the main Sinn Féin goals for the coming year.
Work is already in train on both issues. However, the DUP has signalled it will resist attempts to devolve policing and justice powers by the St Andrews Agreement target date of next May. It is also resisting moves on the Irish language and an alternative to the 11 Plus exam transfer test, matters that are key to Sinn Féin's agenda.
Mr Adams made clear that creating a department of justice in the Northern Executive is a top priority. "2007 was a significant year. It witnessed momentous political progress on policing and, following a deal between Sinn Féin and the DUP in March, the Assembly, the Executive and the all-Ireland institutions were restored in May," he said.
"Achieving this was not easy. Moreover, the legacy of decades of institutional discrimination, conflict and British direct rule mean that society in this part of the island faces enormous challenges around jobs, housing, poverty, suicide, the environment, health, education and much, much more," added Mr Adams.
He said progress was made in 2007 on a number of fronts, including education, devising a draft budget and programme for government and an investment strategy for Northern Ireland.
"These are important advances but we now have to ensure that we collectively continue to make progress," said Mr Adams. "There remain other vital areas of work to be completed around the Good Friday agreement - specifically in the areas of the bill of rights; equality; the Irish language, the North-South bodies and the transfer of power on policing and justice.
"Sinn Féin is an Irish republican party. Our priority objective is Irish reunification. But we are also in the business of seeking to build the economy north and south to deliver strong public services; of tackling crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour, and of promoting the Irish language.
"The peace process has transformed Ireland in the last decade. It is tangible evidence that with political will further substantive progress can be made," added Mr Adams.