SINN Fein Ardchomhairle member, Mr Martin McGuinness MP has listed the requirements he says are necessary for political negotiations to take place "against the background of a peaceful atmosphere".
At a press conference in Dublin, announcing his party's candidates for the forthcoming general election, Mr McGuinness called on the British government to authorise meetings between officials and Sinn Fein representatives to discuss the party's requirements.
"The question is what is required if we are to have any hope of rebuilding the peace process, and getting real and credible peace negotiations against the background of a peaceful atmosphere," he said.
"Sinn Fein requires a date not a promise - when inclusive all-party peace negotiations will begin. We need to know whether or not those negotiations will be without preconditions blocking the road to the start of negotiations.
"We need to know whether the British government and the unionists will have the ability to stall and delay and prevent substantive negotiations for another 18 months."
Sinn Fein also needed to know whether those negotiations would take place in an agreed time frame, he said. "John Hume, John Bruton and Sinn Fein have all said we believe between six and nine months is long enough for, negotiations to take place.
"And we also require to know whether or not the new British government under Tony Blair will deal with the confidence-building measures which were ignored by John Major. We need to know whether they will deal with the equality of treatment for nationalists, repressive legislation, the issue of the RUC, the marches, and of course the plight of the prisoners.
Mr McGuinness said there was no direct contact between Sinn Fein and the British government, but many people were "doing their best in trying to assist in the re-creation and rebuilding of a new opportunity for peace. I think many people see the election of what is undoubtedly a very strong British government as a new opportunity to do just that."
He said he was optimistic that the peace process could be rebuilt.
Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams MP, welcomed the fact that the Taoiseach and the new British Prime Minister had met so quickly.
"There is obviously a changed situation in Britain and there is a changing situation in the North," he said.
"We don't want to see any time wasted," he said. "We think there should be no delay about Sinn Fein being involved in real negotiations. At the same time we understand that the new government in London is only into its new position.
"The dust has to settle and we are optimistic, we have hope. The stranglehold that unionists held over the Westminster Parliament has gone, and Mr Blair's massive majority can be utilised to bring about an equitable peace process based upon real negotiations."
While insisting that Sinn Fein should be involved in political talks on the basis of its electoral mandate, Mr Adams said: "We obviously recognise that real talks can work best in a peaceful environment.
"It's my clear conviction that we will have proper peace talks led by the two governments and that Sinn Fein will be there on the basis of our mandate with all the other parties. There should be no delay in bringing that about."
He said the party wanted to play a positive role in bringing about conditions in which there could be a permanent peace, and Mr Adams added: "We are totally and absolutely committed to democratic and peaceful means to bring about change.