SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams made clear his view yesterday that the current standoff between his party and the Democratic Unionist Party was chiefly down to the DUP.
He also implicitly accused DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson of a lack of leadership.
With Ulster Unionist and SDLP Ministers claiming they are unable to see important matters processed because the Northern Executive has not met for over a month, Mr Adams issued a statement mainly targeted at the DUP.
While the DUP has blamed Sinn Féin for the absence of Executive meetings, Mr Adams said there were "difficulties which need resolution if a crisis is to be avoided". He said that "despite all Sinn Féin's efforts", there had not been a proper engagement by the DUP in addressing a variety of issues.
"In early June the DUP committed to a process of negotiations to resolve all of the outstanding matters - and these go beyond the issues of the transfer of powers on policing and justice and an Irish Language Act," he said.
"Essentially, these are about getting, as required by the [ Belfast and St Andrews] agreements, a fully functioning and cohesive government delivering on all issues which effect citizens in their daily lives on the basis of equality.
"The fact is that despite all Sinn Féin's efforts, there has not been a proper engagement or process, and these issues have not been satisfactorily addressed," he added.
He said Sinn Féin wanted to see the political institutions working properly and that the public wanted progress on real and pressing issues such as rising food and fuel costs.
"People expect the Executive and the institutions to be dealing with these matters, but this can only happen on the basis of partnership government. That is Sinn Féin and the DUP, and the other parties, working together constructively within the Executive and institutions," said Mr Adams.
"There are those within the DUP who are opposed to this," he added. "They seek to advance narrow issues of concern only to themselves, while they block matters of concern to others as well as issues which are in the common good."
In an obvious reference to Mr Robinson, he said: "So, this is down to a question of leadership and political will. The fact is the electorate and society in general have an expectation and a right to know all parties are working diligently to implement agreements, and are fully participating in partnership government."
DUP junior minister Jeffrey Donaldson, who accused Mr Adams of "grandstanding", said "the only party preventing the Executive from meeting is Sinn Féin".
"The DUP has signed 30 executive proposals which is enough to sustain three Executive meetings, so I think the people of Northern Ireland will reach their own conclusions as to who is holding up the process of government and creating uncertainty," he added.
