Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has sought to move the spotlight away from his outspoken attack on US President George Bush's special envoy to Northern Ireland.
He also revealed that his party had been forced to refund $100,000 (€82,000) in donations that were to be made at a Friends of Sinn Féin gala breakfast in Washington yesterday, because he was in attendance.
US State Department restrictions, on his visa ban him from taking part in fundraising for his party.
Yesterday, Mr Adams lashed out at Mitchell Reiss, saying he was giving the President bad advice. Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said such "spats" had to stop because they got in the way of progress.
At a fundraising dinner in Washington last night, Mr Adams reiterated his complaint against Mr Reiss, but insisted that his protest was not the most important message.
"I find that I'm not impressed by what Mitchell Reiss has been inputting into the peace process," Mr Adams said. "But that's not the main story - the main story is to get the British Government to put institutions back into place and with all speed."
Speaking at the breakfast yesterday morning, Mr Adams said: "I don't have high regard for Mitchell Reiss's input into this process. "If it is he who is advising the president, it's very very bad advice."
Earlier in the week, Mr Adams said he was concerned by the "partisan behaviour" of the American administration's handling of the peace process in recent months.
Meanwhile, US senator Joe Biden today urged the Democratic Unionists to end their opposition to power sharing.
The Irish American senator, who has been tipped as a possible Democratic contender in the 2008 presidential election, said the Rev Ian Paisley's party faced a "historic choice" which would be crucial in the peace process.
The Delaware senator made his comments at a St Patrick's Day gala dinner where 800 guests were in attendance, including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Northern Secretary Peter Hain and Mr Adams.
PA