The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, yesterday in the Northern Assembly accused the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, of creating a "disgraceful" climate in the North.
Speaking after the nomination of six SDLP and four Sinn Fein ministers to an executive which promptly collapsed because unionists did not participate, Mr Adams also denounced the Ulster Unionist Party for boycotting yesterday's sitting of the Assembly.
"I am sure on a personal level that Dr Paisley is a nice man. I am sure as a husband, a father, a grandfather and even with his colleagues that he can be charming, affectionate and funny.
"But here in terms of his leadership of a section of our people, and of the type of climate and the politics he has been involved in for the last 30 years, he has been disgraceful. The absence of the UUP and especially of the First Minister-designate is also disgraceful."
Many people would be angry and very sorry at the farce witnessed in the chamber, he said.
Mr Adams warned unionists that the human rights, social, economic and cultural aspects of the Belfast Agreement would continue to be implemented.
"If the unionists think that the equality agenda is going to disappear, they are mistaken. The equality agenda is only beginning. If the unionists think they are going to hold on to the RUC they're mistaken because we still need a new policing service for people of this state."
Mr Adams said it had been a "huge thing" for Sinn Fein to change its constitution and enter into the Northern Ireland Assembly. In doing so the party was "trying to face up to its responsibilities".
Sinn Fein members "have been survivors of Bloody Sunday, of Duke Street. We've been CS-gassed, CR-gassed, we have been plastic-bulleted. We have been in H-blocks, we have been in prison ships, we have been in prison cells," Mr Adams said.
In spite of this he said he was still asking sensible, positive unionism to grasp the opportunity which was theirs.
Mr Adams paid tribute to Mr Seamus Mallon, who resigned his position as Deputy First Minister-designate. He commended Mr Mallon on how he had conducted himself during his 12-month period in the designate office.