Nationalists and republicans in the North should join the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said, following the party's vote on Sunday to back the PSNI and the rule of law.
"I think if young republicans want to join that is their right and we would support them in doing that. There is no point in encouraging people to work with the police if we don't encourage those who want to join," said Mr Adams.
Speaking after the party's ardchomhairle meeting in Dublin, Mr Adams said: "I think it is just a natural consequence of the decision that we took. All of this takes time." However, he said there is "a huge onus" on the PSNI to "earn the trust and confidence" of the republican and nationalist communities "which at this point does not exist".
Mr Adams criticised the Democratic Unionist Party's reaction to Sunday's result, where the DUP had demanded on-the-ground evidence that Sinn Féin was co-operating with the police.
"That is why republicans are getting frustrated about the litany coming from the DUP. The DUP needs to cop on. We don't need lectures, ultimatums and demands from anyone else," he said.
"The DUP's reaction has been sadly predictable. Assertions by the DUP that they are going to test republicans don't wash. They have no veto over how we deal with this issue.
"What republicans did at the weekend was done in the national interest and in the common good. It wasn't done for the DUP. And they are in no position to lecture anyone on law and order.
"So rather than unionist politicians competing with each other on a negative agenda, surely now is the time to grasp the opportunity and adopt a more positive approach. This, I am sure would be welcomed by many unionist people."
However, Mr Adams would not call on republicans and nationalists to speak to the police if they had information about impending attacks planned by dissident republicans.
Though he called for "no armed actions" to occur, Mr Adams said he remains determined to open dialogue with dissidents in Republican Sinn Féin, Continuity IRA and the Real IRA.
"I think it is a very honourable thing to be a dissident. I do want to engage with them. There should be no armed actions.
"We have a strategy for dealing with those who would claim the right to engage in armed action. We think that our strategy will work," Mr Adams said.
"We are calling on people in the community to co-operate with the police to solve crime and take criminals off the streets. The issue of political policing will take longer to resolve.
"Further progress will happen either with the return of the powersharing institutions on March 26th or in the context of new all-Ireland partnership arrangements," Mr Adams added.
The ardchomhairle also considered preparations for the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in early March.
