The core issue of the move towards restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland was whether the Democratic Unionist Party is capable of striking a deal, Sinn Fein claimed today.
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, the party chairman, said Sinn Fein was dedicated to seeing the Stormont assembly and power sharing executive resume but the party had genuine grounds for concern on whether the DUP was ready to do the work required.
The British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair has warned that a return to direct rule for Northern Ireland was not possible unless the three-days of high-level talks in Leeds Castle next week were successful.
Mr McLaughlin said: "Essentially Sinn Fein is not preparing for failure, other parties and indeed governments can speak for themselves, we are in to do the business. I think giving people opt out clauses is perhaps a mistake.
"Our party will be going in with a can do attitude rather than legislating for failure."
Mr McLaughlin was speaking as a meeting of the party's Ard Chomhairle in Dublin.
Party leader Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness were discussing the party's strategy ahead of next week's talks chaired by Mr Blair and the Taoiseach Mr Ahern.
The Sinn Fein leadership will be in meetings with representatives of the British and Irish governments over the weekend.
PA