Voices from the conference: Stiofan Long, a Sinn Féin activist from south Belfast said party negotiators should not be "hamstrung" by any absolutist positions on coalition.
"I don't see any difference between entering into a voluntary coalition with the DUP, which we will probably be doing in the very near future, than entering into coalition with any of the parties in the South, as long as it suits our strategic objectives. If the PDs become a republican party, a united Ireland party, a socialist party, I would not rule out coalition with them." As for the real prospects of the DUP sharing power this year with Sinn Féin: "I don't accept that things are as bleak as some people are making out. I think people are taking pre-negotiation stances. I think the threat of the removal of Assembly salaries will force the DUP to move.
"I think there has to be an accommodation in the North and the sooner the DUP come to the realisation that Sinn Féin are not going away the better for all. There are pragmatic leaders in the wings of the DUP waiting to emerge."
Rose Conway-Waslh, from Belmullet, Co Mayo, who is involved in community development in the area joined Sinn Féin when she returned from England in 1998. "I couldn't ever see Sinn Féin sharing government with the PDs or Fine Gael. I think Fine Gael's policies over the last number of years would be more closely aligned with the DUP rather than Sinn Féin or any other party. I would not rule out coalition with Fianna Fáil but a lot would have to be done before that could happen. For instance we would oppose the inequalities of the two-tier system of health. I absolutely don't believe Bertie Ahern; he certainly would be considering Sinn Féin for coalition, but whether Sinn Féin would be considering him is another matter." On power-sharing with the DUP: "With Ian Paisley moving the goalposts I think things will never be good enough for him. The only thing I might bank on is he is getting a bit older. But whether he would get any more accommodating I have my doubts on that."
Emmet Steenson, from the North Strand in Dublin, whose grandparents Michael Murphy and Martha Kelly were involved in the Rising and met and fell in love in Kilmainham Gaol, supported the leadership view to "leave our options open" on coalition. "But I wouldn't go into power with Fine Gael; I don't support fascism, I never did. I don't believe Bertie Ahern when he says he wouldn't share power with Sinn Féin. He would share power with anybody." On power-sharing in the North: "Ian Paisley has said no all his life. Has he ever offered any other option? Of course there is a prospect of a deal. Everybody wants power; that's what it's all about. I can't speak for the DUP but there are definitely changes. We want an Ireland of equals. We stay at it, and we are sticking at it."
Danny Churchhill, a trade union activist from Clogher Head, Co Louth, knew where he stood on coalition in the South.
"Certainly not with Fine Gael, certainly not the PDs, certainly not Trevor Sergeant's Greens. In the future (Fianna Fáil and Labour) may come to their senses. Fianna Fáil say they wouldn't share power with Sinn Féin but at present I would not share power with them. Bertie would share a bed with anyone." As for government with Ian Paisley: "I hope there is a power-sharing government in the North this year. But it is very hard to find common ground with Ian Paisley. He is so inconsistent. But I do think that there are pragmatists in the DUP who genuinely want to share power. I don't think that Paisley represents the real mind of the unionist people."
Compiled by Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor