Sinn Féin has “absolutely no interest” in coalition with Fine Gael, the North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has told his party’s ardfheis in Dublin.
Recalling Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny's recent appearance on the Late Late Show, he said: "Enda seemed fairly certain that he wouldn't go into government with Sinn Féin but he seemed less sure about exactly why.
"Well, let me help Fine Gael out – a bit like George Lee, we have absolutely no interest in government with Fine Gael or with their policies.
"More of the same isn't what is required in the Ireland of 2010. We need new thinking and new ideas."
But he added: "I have to say, unlike Enda Kenny, I do know what it is like to operate a coalition government. In case it has escaped his attention, I jointly head one, alongside Peter Robinson.
"Unlike his party colleagues, Sinn Féin ministers take decisions day and daily which impact on the lives of Irish citizens."
He added: "That's why it is laughable when I hear commentators or political rivals in this state say that Sinn Féin cannot be trusted in government, or we do not have experience in government.
They need to wake and look north. "We are in government, we are taking the hard decisions and we are doing a good job. Their attitude isn't just arrogant, it is partitionist and it is absolutely unacceptable," Mr McGuinness said.
Sinn Féin vice-president Mary Lou McDonald said that, if anyone doubted Sinn Féin's ability to deliver in government she would say: "Look up the road [to Belfast]."
The former Dublin MEP reminded delegates that the organisation was "this country's oldest political party" but added that it "stood for a new, better Ireland".
Looking back to the last ardfheis, she said: "It's been a year in which the full consequences of bad politics have been laid bare." "The current Fianna Fáil-Green administration is not so much a government as an affliction," she said.
Now, more than ever, a new approach was needed, "a republican way to build a better Ireland." A cabinet reshuffle was only, "a recipe for more of the same bad politics".
"Protecting jobs, creating jobs is our immediate priority. We need to get Ireland back to work, and this can be done." In this respect, an all-Ireland approach was an "absolute necessity" and "common sense".
Attacking the establishment of the National Asset Management Agency she pointed out that Sinn Féin had long argued for a state bank.
"Sinn Féin stands for a fair Ireland." Taxes must be raised fairly: "That means that those who have most, pay most." She said "huge strides" had been made with the peace process. "Peace is not a northern issue, it is a core national interest."