Sinn Fein is proposing three new ministries in what would be a massive reorganisation of devolved government in Northern Ireland, it emerged today.
Party sources said their negotiators in the review of the Belfast Agreement would argue Stormont should have Departments for Policing and Justice, Equality and Children.
However republicans believe the total number of government departments should remain at 10, with some ministries merging and powers transferred.
As party representatives met in Navan, Co Meath, to discuss strategy in the run-up to June's European Parliament elections and the local government elections in the Irish Republic, a Sinn Fein spokesman confirmed their plan to establish three new government departments north of the border.
"The lack of movement especially on the central issue of equality is a huge issue," he said.
"Today there are still the same levels of poverty in nationalist areas and the gap between the nationalist and unionist communities has not altered significantly despite over 10 years of the peace process and five years of the Agreement.
"If anything, it now looks as if we are going backwards. It is for this reason that Sinn Fein has identified the need for a Department of Equality as an important step in delivering on the equality agenda.
"Sinn Fein has also been arguing that there is the need for a department that is cross cutting and deals with all of the issues affecting young people and children for some time.
"Ultimate resolution of outstanding issues on policing will include agreement on the transfer of powers on policing and justice. This would require the creation of a Department of Policing and Justice at that point to ensure that we can take the power out of the hands of the securocrats and bring about real democratic accountability.
"All of this can be accommodated within the terms of the agreement, maintaining a total of 10 departments. This would require a reconfiguration of existing departments."
Some unionists have been critical of the proposal to transfer policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.
PA