Mr Gerry Adams launched a blistering attack on the British state yesterday even as Sinn Féin's four MPs moved into their new offices in Westminster.
Renewing charges of collusion between British security services and loyalist paramilitaries, the Sinn Féin president said a "loyalist killing campaign" now threatened the peace process, and contended there was "a tolerance of that campaign" within the British state.
The issue dominated the Sinn Féin delegation's hour-long talks with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and a subsequent Westminster press conference at which Mr Adams said his party would use its facilities and allowances - worth an estimated £444,000 "to lobby for support for a democratic British policy in respect of Irish national self-determination and unification".
The grant of Westminster facilities and allowances prompted the Conservative's Northern Ireland spokesman, Mr Quentin Davies, to accuse the Blair government of "contributing to a great propaganda coup" for Sinn Féin and of "licking their boots".
Mr Adams dismissed a suggestion by Northern Ireland's First Minister and Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, that the decision to take up Westminster facilities marked the beginning of the end of the party's policy of abstention. Flanked by fellow MPs Mr Martin McGuinness, Mr Pat Doherty and Ms Michelle Gildernew, the Sinn Féin president insisted: "There are a lot of things which there can be no certainty of and there are some things of which we can be certain. There will never, ever be Sinn Féin MPs sitting in the British Houses of Parliament." He reiterated this would remain the case even if the oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth was scrapped. "What it is is an issue of sovereignty," he declared, adding: "Our position is that the British parliament has no rights in Ireland."
The transfer of power to the Stormont Assembly and all-Ireland institutions was "proof of where we see the political centre of gravity on the island of Ireland, and that is on the island of Ireland."
He told reporters the party's meeting with Mr Blair had been important in the context of a continuing dialogue. "We discussed in some detail the whole issue of policing and the need for him to take on board the obligation to get back to the Belfast Agreement template for policing."
Referring to continuing loyalist violence, Mr Adams said: "There is a common root here, this is the issue of the relationship between the so-called security agencies of the British state and those in loyalism who are doing the killing. Unless they (the government) take it on board that this has been part of almost 30 years of conflict in the North of Ireland, then they are not going to get it right."
Asked to assess what progress he had made with Mr Blair on these issues, Mr Adams told The Irish Times he felt they were "on the same trajectory" as when the party first pressed the Prime Minister for an inquiry, eventually granted, into Bloody Sunday.
Monika Unsworth, in Belfast writes: Unionists have expressed their disapproval at Sinn Féin taking up its facilities in Westminster, saying it would create a "two-tier" House of Commons.
Mr Trimble said he was keen to hear how Sinn Féin would explain the move to its supporters. "It will be interesting to see what explanation Sinn Féin will give as to how walking into Westminster is a step towards a united Ireland when it very obviously is a step in the opposite direction," he said.
Fellow MP and dissident Ulster Unionist Mr Jeffrey Donaldson said he was "very much opposed" to the developments. "I feel Sinn Féin has not agreed to abide by the rules of the House of Commons which include swearing an oath to the Queen and fulfilling the role of an MP. It is wrong for them to have access to offices but not act as MPs - that creates two classes of Members," he insisted.