Dublin reaction:Tánaiste Michael McDowell said yesterday it was "unhelpful" that some senior Sinn Féin people are already fudging on whether they would inform the PSNI about the activities of dissident republicans.
Commenting on the results of the Northern elections, Mr McDowell said he regarded this as an "unfortunate blip" on the edges of Sinn Féin and he called on everyone to support a powersharing executive.
Mr McDowell said a deal was worked out in St Andrews and one purpose was to allow the Provisional movement in its entirety to show support for policing in Northern Ireland, and that it would play its full part in policing and upholding the rule of law.
"That process is ongoing at the moment and the Provisional movement - Sinn Féin and the IRA - are being put to the test on this issue. I believe they have given up their campaign of violence and criminality, and I believe that having done that and having taken up their positions on the policing board that they should enter into a powersharing executive," he said. Mr McDowell added that he regarded it as "slightly unhelpful" that some senior Sinn Féin people are already fudging questions as to whether they would inform the police about the activities of dissident republicans.
"You can't be half in or half out of the rule of law; you either uphold it or don't uphold it."
He said the DUP should now look at each side of the equation and go into the power-sharing executive.
"That's what the people of Northern Ireland voted for and if any of the DUP people are under any illusion about that they should take a long hard look at the UK Unionist candidates across Northern Ireland who were emphatically rejected."
The only conclusion that could be drawn from that, and from the similar fate of "dissident so-called republicans", is that the people of Northern Ireland are sick and sorry of people trying not to operate the Belfast Agreement agreement, he added.
"They want the politicians of Northern Ireland to operate the terms of that agreement," Mr McDowell said.
"We went to St Andrews and made every possible accommodation for all parties. I think the people of Northern Ireland would feel very seriously cheated if the two main protagonists on either side have any further delays."
Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said, following the outcome of the Assembly elections, there is now a clear obligation on the two main parties to deliver on their commitments and on the trust that the electorate has placed in them.
"Clearly there will be many further obstacles to be overcome in the run-up to March 26th if we are to see the restoration of the executive and other democratic structures. Sinn Féin must show that its support for policing is genuine and given practical expression in those communities where they hold sway," he said.
"The DUP must honour commitments that it made in regard to willingness to share power with the democratically elected representatives of the nationalist community."
He said he is pleased that Labour's "fraternal party", the SDLP, has largely held its own under very difficult electoral circumstances.
"Without the courage displayed by the SDLP there would have been no Good Friday agreement and Northern Ireland would never have advanced to where it is today. I have no doubt that the SDLP will continue to play a crucial role in political developments in Northern Ireland. "