The British and Irish governments must not allow the Rev Ian Paisley to block the path to power-sharing in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness told delegates at the party's Ard Fheis in Dublin tonight.
Mr McGuinness said Republicans had honoured their commitments and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) now had to face up to its responsibilities. He told delegates in the RDS that the peace process had transformed the island of Ireland and needed to be carried through to its conclusion. "I want to send out a clear message that Sinn Fein means business," he said. "We are up for the challenges ahead. Dublin and London need to show that they can meet those same challenges." Introducing motions on the peace process, the Mid-Ulster MP said Sinn Fein was serious about engaging with unionism and that the DUP had to face up to this reality. "They have a huge decision to make," he continued. "I hope that they make the right decision. If (Mr Paisley) makes the wrong decision there is a huge responsibility on Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair to make it clear that the DUP are not going to be allowed to prevent progress. "If that means stopping the Assembly salaries so be it. If that means abolishing the Assembly so be it. We want to see Ian Paisley sharing power," he added. Earlier, Sinn Fein Dail leader Caoimhghin O Caolain described Minister for Justice Michael McDowell as a "bombast bore".
Delivering the opening address to this year's Ard Fheis, Mr O Caolain said Mr McDowell should take his rightful place in the House of Lords as "Lord McDowell of West Britain". This weekend's event will also be the first ardfheis since the IRA announced the end of its armed campaign and decommissioned its weapons last year.
Guest speakers in the RDS will include Micheal O Seighin of the Rossport Five group and Joanne Delaney, who was sacked from her job in Dunnes Stores in Crumlin because she wore a union badge.
The party will also offer "welcome home greetings" to the "Colombia Three" - James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley - who disclosed their return to the State last August.
Last night, a Sinn Féin spokesman was unable to say whether the party intended formally to introduce the three men to the conference, as happened in 1998 with the return of the four IRA Balcombe Street bombers.