Sinn Fein tonight began a wide consultation process with party members and supporters before deciding if it will support policing in Northern Ireland.
The party's leadership discussed the issue with its 53-member Ard Chomhairle during a three-hour meeting in Dublin.
Sinn Fein must hold a special Ard Fheis in order to change its policy to support the PSNI — a key demand by the DUP in return for power-sharing.
Party chairperson Mary Lou McDonald said tonight that the consultation will take a number of weeks but that the question of a special Ard Fheis on policing issue didn't arise at this point.
"We have agreed a process of consultation throughout the entire party, all of the structures right down to the grassroots. That will start immediately. We will have full and genuine dialogue and debate with our people.
"We're also looking to have a broader aspect of this consultation by reaching into the community."
Party leader Gerry Adams added: "I'm not in a position at this point to put a proposal to the Ard Chomhairle in relation to an Ard Fheis.
There is ongoing work so the question of 'when' doesn't arise at this point."
Ms McDonald said the consultation would take a number of weeks.
"We won't be taking any shortcuts on it but it is a relatively tight time frame."
Mr Adams said that his party would not delay the political timetable leading to potential power-sharing in March, but quickly added that a Programme for Government Committee was expected to have began its work by now.