Restoration of the peace process must entail "more hard choices" for the British and Irish governments as well as for Sinn Féin and the IRA, the party's leader in the Dáil has claimed.
Speaking yesterday at an Easter commemoration in Clones, Co Monaghan, Caoimghín Ó Caoláin echoed a series of speeches over the weekend by other leading Sinn Féin figures.
In another signal that republicans are considering their position on the political stalemate, Mr Ó Caoláin said: "We as republicans are prepared to face up to the difficult decisions we must make, as we have done at every key stage of the peace process."
He added: "Our strategies and our tactics may change, but our basic principles remain the same. They are set out in the Proclamation. Our job is to put it into effect."
Like party president Gerry Adams, Mr Ó Caoláin condemned the murderers of Robert McCartney, accusing them of having "sullied the good name of republicanism".
"Those responsible should own up to their actions. Their continuing failure to do so compounds the outrage of all who proudly proclaim their republicanism this Easter time," said Mr Ó Caoláin.
However, he warned that Sinn Féin would not accept lectures "from the likes of Minister Michael McDowell".
He added: "Neither will republicans accept lectures from the British government. In the current climate, that government has been breathing a sigh of relief as the eye has been taken off England as the primary cause of the conflict in our country.
"Where are the sanctions against the British government for its continuing efforts to thwart any real process of truth and justice for the victims of the policy of collusion - a central part of Britain's war in Ireland?"
He condemned legislation aimed at providing a new framework for the inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.
"The British government has brought in a piece of legislation called the Inquiries Bill, which is designed to prevent any realistic inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane or that of any other victim of collusion between its forces and loyalist death squads."
He also criticised the British position on the Barron report into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, citing Oireachtas committee findings.
"The committee severely reprimanded the British prime minister for his refusal to establish an inquiry . . . It went further and stated that Blair's action is in breach of the Good Friday Agreement.
"The British Secretary of State, the Northern Ireland Office and the PSNI refused to co-operate in any meaningful way with the Barron investigation itself or with the work of the Oireachtas committee."