SINN FÉIN representatives studiously avoided detailed comment on the fresh discussions with the DUP on the stalled transfer of policing and justice power.
Gerry Adams insisted, however, that with political will, outstanding issues hindering devolution would be resolved.
“We are looking to the future,” he said. “These discussion have to involve all of the parties, but particularly between ourselves and the DUP are hugely important. The issues predate the controversies of recent times. We will not be dealing with the detail of the discussions except to say that if the political will is there it is our view that these matters can be resolved.”
Speaking in the Great Hall at Stormont the party president refused to be drawn on the detail of the discussions, which are expected to intensify significantly later this week, and on reports that the mood between his fellow negotiators and the DUP delegation had improved.
“You can only judge a negotiation at the end and there are many twists and turns before you get to the end. I am not going to be a commentator, a speculator about where this is going to go.”
He added: “Sometimes, we have learned this in the past – the least said, the soonest mended. So we are not going to be saying anything about the detail and our focus is on straightening this out.”
Asked what message he wished to convey as the negotiations resumed, he said: “People will be able to judge the success or failure of the political parties here to resolve these matters by the outcome of our deliberations.
“We are letting the public know through the news media that there are serious talks, but the issues involved are the ones which are in the public domain, that they are at a sensitive stage. Our resolve is to make them succeed and we are not going to be saying anything about the detail.”
Questioned on the significance of the inclusion of DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds in the negotiations, Mr Adams replied: “I can only speak for the Sinn Féin team and we are pleased to meet with whomever represents any of the other parties. The product of all of this will allow everyone to make a judgment on this, particularly citizens, on the fruits of our endeavours.”
He did concede, however: “We were here yesterday [Monday] and we commenced these talks yesterday, and on Sunday we were not talking. So the fact that talks are ongoing and that the parties are focusing in – and you know the issues – the product of that will be the matter on which you should make your judgment.”
Mr Adams’s senior colleague Alex Maskey said his party would make a judgment soon about the DUP’s intentions. “We will make a judgment as early as we feel it appropriate [on] whether or not the DUP are serious about resolving the matter of policing,” he said.
He suggested the talks could not become drawn out, as many issues had already been settled.
“We are looking at a short time-frame here in terms of the discussions because a lot of the issues around policing and justice have already been resolved,” he said.
“We’ll make that judgment when we have our discussions with the DUP as to whether or not we get a date for an early transfer of powers.”
Asked when the Sinn Féin ardchomhairle meeting postponed from last Saturday is going to be held, Mr Maskey said: “I don’t have a date yet, but it will be convened very shortly because we actually have an ardfheis coming up very shortly [and] we have a lot of other business to attend to.”