The Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square, Dublin, is a place for quiet contemplation. And that certainly doesn't include press briefings - not for Mr Gerry Adams, or anyone.
The Sinn Fein president and party press officer, Ms Rita O'Hare, were preparing for a media briefing in the sun beside the sculpture in the memorial garden yesterday, after the party's weekend ardfheis. Journalists and cameramen waited patiently near the pool, having been summoned at the last minute by Sinn Fein.
Opened on the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising as a memorial to those who died in the struggle for independence, the Garden of Remembrance seemed an appropriate venue for Mr Adams to be pondering the peace process. But he was about to be disturbed.
A ranger with responsibility for the garden wanted to know why journalists had suddenly collected there and, on being told, decided to pursue the matter with Mr Adams.
Written permission was needed to hold a conference and Mr Adams didn't have it. Hadn't even sought it either. In this instance, agreement with Mr Adams was reached almost immediately and the briefing was conducted outside the gates, to the wonderment of tourists who got holiday snaps they didn't bargain for.
The Office of Public Works, which had responsibility for the garden until two years ago, confirmed that permission for such events was required and rarely granted. The garden is now under the care of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
Addressing reporters, Mr Adams declined to comment on suggestions that his party may advocate a Yes vote on the Good Friday agreement in the North and a No vote in the South due to difficulties over proposed changes to Articles 2 and 3.
He said his party was "ruling nothing in and nothing out" in relation to its position regarding the referendums and proposals would be discussed by the party membership before any announcement.
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, in contrast to Sinn Fein, were 26county parties and in a different position regarding the May 22nd referendum, he said. "Two different political realities have grown up together. People in the North have no vote on constitutional changes and people in the South are being asked to vote on the effect of something not happening in the South," said Mr Adams.
In a radio interview on Sunday, Mr Adams said his party was likely to "cherry-pick" the agreement, while rejecting other parts. Sinn Fein's position "conceivably could be that there would be a qualified Yes in terms of the 26 counties, but which could mean people here in the 26 counties voting against the changes in Articles 2 and 3". In the North, however, voters might take a more pragmatic view as they were not being asked to vote on changes to their constitutional status, said Mr Adams.