The Democratic Unionists will consign Northern Ireland to unaccountable government which will punish their constituents if they fail to revive power- sharing, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams insisted today.
At talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair at Chequers, Mr Adams acknowledged the Reverend Ian Paisley's party was facing a tough decision at next week's talks in St Andrews in Scotland ahead of the November 24th deadline for power-sharing.
The West Belfast MP said: "I do believe it is not a question of if we have devolved government, it is a question of when.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams
"However, at this stage I am not going to second-guess what Ian Paisley is going to do. The only one who can speak for Ian Paisley is Ian Paisley.
"While they can refuse to come on board, the most they can do is delay devolved government. If they do not come on board, the North will be run by bureaucrats and our people will be punished by decisions taken by direct rule ministers on health, education, the future of our rural communities.
"Decisions will be taken which will punish the people with punitive rates impositions and water charges and no-one will be accountable, as is the situation now.
"I do not under-estimate the challenge the DUP is facing over the next week. It is a big challenge. However, republicans have honoured every commitment that they have made," he said. "We should all be about serving the people and we can best do that by being part of an administration."
Mr Adams, who was accompanied by Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness and Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald, said it was clear from the one-and-a-half-hour discussion with the Prime Minister that he was clearly focused on getting the power-sharing executive and other institutions back in place by November 24th.
"That is our position as well," he said. "I think there is no point in going to Scotland unless we can resolve all of these matters. "That is Sinn Féin's intention. If there is a political will, every issue can be sorted out."
Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern have given Northern Ireland's politicians until November 24th to agree to a power-sharing government featuring the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP.
But the DUP insists Sinn Féin must give a firm commitment to recognising the Police Service of Northern Ireland as the legitimate force of law and order before it can be considered a credible partner in government.
Sinn Féin wants the DUP to commit itself first to sharing power before republicans can move on the policing issue.
PA