Sinn Féin is to debate the party's future attitude to the Police Service of Northern Ireland over the next three weeks in grassroots meetings around the State, party president Gerry Adams said yesterday.
The issue was at the top of the agenda of a meeting yesterday of Sinn Féin's 56-strong ardchomhairle, including one of those who fled criminal charges in Colombia, James Monaghan.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Adams said senior party members had "concerns" about the stance taken since last week's talks in Scotland by the Democratic Unionist Party, and by the actions of the two governments.
"But I think it is fair to say that there is overwhelming support for the objective of getting the Good Friday agreement rolled out and of bringing about the political institutions so that Martin McGuinness, as our nominee, would be, on the basis of equality, sharing the office of the First Minister with Ian Paisley," he declared.
Asked if the consultation could be completed before the November 10th deadline set by the governments for the parties to give their initial reaction to the St Andrews proposals, Mr Adams said: "I imagine so, yes. Given the seriousness of the situation, the consultation [will be done] in a time frame that will be relatively short. But it has to be a proper, genuine process," he said, following the three-hour meeting.
Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said: "We need to be clear about this: it needs to be a genuine and a deep process of consultation and engagement. We won't be taking any short cuts."
Mr Adams said he had not put any proposal to the ardchomhairle about holding a special ardfheis to drop the party's opposition to the PSNI, and to membership of the NI Policing Board.
"I am not in a position at this point to put a proposal to [ it] in relation to the ardfheis. There is obviously ongoing work, so the question doesn't arise at this point," he told The Irish Times.
Asked if the party's position on policing could block the restoration of the Assembly and the Executive, the SF leader said: "These are all issues which are surmountable. I have said that."
Sinn Féin had been the only party entering the St Andrews talks who said that while "clearly there were difficulties and issues, there were no insurmountable issues".
"There are challenges for the governments, for the DUP and for Sinn Féin and republicans. But none of them are insurmountable because the prize is too big to allow anything to stop us." He expressed doubt that the DUP had a letter from British prime minister Tony Blair promising them that Martin McGuinness would take the ministerial pledge of office on November 24th.
"Who knows? But if you were a gambling man, and I am not, I would bet you that there isn't. If there is, let them publish it. We set out our position. Ministers have to take a pledge of office.
"In the old Executive they did take a pledge of office. We have put forward amendments to strengthen the pledge of office and to deliver the Good Friday agreement for all citizens.
"So let's see if there are words, or, indeed, a way to sort this out. I think there is, but it can't be a sackcloth and ashes pledge of office," the Sinn Féin leader said.
Questioned about DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley's refusal to take part in Monday's talks in Stormont, Mr Adams said: "We all had the understanding that Ian Paisley would have sat down at the programme for government committee. At this point, the programme for government committee should have been working out a programme for government."
