Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said tonight his party supported law and order in the North.
In an address to a Friends of Sinn Fein fundraising dinner in New York, Gerry Adams tonight told Irish American supporters he was tired of hearing opponents claim republicans did not support law and order.
But the West Belfast MP warned the British government and the DUP they would have to conclude negotiations with his party on key policing issues — such as a date for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont — before his party could move.
"Republicans do support law and order. But that doesn't mean that we will roll over and endorse whatever policing arrangement the British Government dictates. "We have been forthright about our position on policing and our vote continues to increase."
Mr Adams said his party had made progress in negotiations on the policing issue.
However he added: "Sinn Fein's focus is about bringing an end to partisan and sectarian policing. "We are determined to ensure that all elements in policing are accountable. "That is the focus of our negotiations with the British Government at this time.
"I have made clear that when the British Government and the DUP conclude with us in a satisfactory way on the outstanding policing issues, I will go to the Sinn Fein ard chomhairle and seek a special ard fheis.
But as senior members of the Democratic Unionists met to sign off on the party's response to a plan to revive power sharing by next March, the party's Policing Board member Ian Paisley Junior noted some Dublin sources were suggesting the November 24th deadline for appointing First and Deputy First Ministers could slip.
The North Antrim Assembly member said: "I am interested in the suggestions today in one Dublin newspaper that there may be slippage in the St Andrews timetable. "This would seem to suggest republicans are clearly struggling to meet the November 24 deadline when it comes to doing what is expected of them on policing."
The DUP executive is expected tonight to give qualified backing to Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's plan to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland next March.
However, the party — which must publicly state its position by tomorrow — is expected to insist Sinn Fein must join with other parties in endorsing the Police Service of Northern Ireland and upholding the rule of law if there is to be power sharing.
Mr Blair and Mr Ahern's timetable to devolution sets March 26 as the deadline for the return of power sharing.
After meeting Mr Ahern in Dublin, SDLP leader Mark Durkan tonight urged the two governments to convene a round table meeting of the Northern Ireland parties next week to ensure political progress was delivered.
"We urged the Taoiseach to put in place a real process in coming weeks," the Foyle MP said. "Its vital that the two governments set the pace. We want to see the two governments convene a meeting with all the parties and we want the Preparation for Government meeting next week too.
"The Taoiseach saw very strong merits in our proposals. After all, if we want parties to move ahead the best way is not to say it but to show it by getting them all around the one table."