Fianna Fáil today came under pressure to give Northern Ireland politicians speaking rights in the Oireachtas if it plans to run candidates and recruit voters across the Border.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told his parliamentary party at a 'think-in' in Co Wicklow on Monday that the move up North made sense given the Government party's role in the peace process and its current efforts in building an all-island economy.
Fianna Fáil may consider running candidates for local and Assembly elections but will not contest Westminster seats. The strategy may include a possible merger with the SDLP.
The Taoiseach has appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern to lead efforts to develop the new strategy across the Border.
However Sinn Féin today called on Fianna Fáil to deliver on its Belfast Agreement pledge to give nationalist and unionist representatives a voice in the Oireachtas.
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris said: "If the intentions of the Fianna Fáil party to organise and seek a political mandate on a 32-county basis are genuine, now is an opportune time for him to deliver on his government's commitment to all-island representation in the Oireachtas."
The all-party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution had recommended as far back as 2002 that parties like Sinn Féin should be able to take part in debates in the Dáil and Seanad but the plans have been stalled.
Mr Ferris added: "Irish citizens should not be denied their constitutional right to participate fully in the life of the nation just because they were abandoned behind an artificial border imposed by a foreign power."