Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams has said unionists must put forward alternative arguments against a united Ireland.
Speaking as his party's Northern Ireland Assembly members and TDs held their first joint meeting at Stormont yesterday, he insisted republicans were confident that "thinking unionists will come round to their vision". He added: "Otherwise, we wouldn't be here at Stormont. But you know, maybe they have an alternative.
"Let us hear the argument for the Union. Let us hear the argument for the British connection being maintained. All we are asking is the right to put the argument for all of the people - nationalists, unionists, loyalists, republicans - coming together and shaping out whatever sort of island we want for ourselves free of the British jurisdiction."
Mr Adams said it was "a battle of ideas". Despite what was happening on the streets and other difficulties, people were "starting to look forward".
Sinn Féin TD Mr CaoimhghíÓ Caoláin was joined at Stormont by three of his party's four new TDs - Mr Martin Ferris, Mr SeáCrowe, and Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
Mr Ó Caoláin said he hoped yesterday's meeting would be "the beginning of a series of ongoing and ever-closer working relations between our elected representatives throughout the island of Ireland".
He added: "We are looking forward to a reciprocal welcome for our representatives here in the Assembly when they visit en bloc Leinster House in the not too distant future. Part of our work is working towards, and wanting to see as early as possible, our elected members of parliament representing the six counties taking their place in Leinster House, participating in open debate and joining up in presenting a real all-Ireland representation for the people of Ireland."