Sinn Féin delegates today voted against a bid to tie the party into a policy of refusing to participate in policing in Northern Ireland ahead of a united Ireland.
During the debate, leadership figures including North Belfast Assembly member Gerry Kelly urged the party to commit itself to a policy of holding a special ardfheis to change its approach to policing if it felt reforms went far enough.
Mr Kelly told the ArdFheis in Dublin that legislation initiated by the Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain on Thursday committing the British government to the transfer of policing and justice powers to a future administration at Stormont was not sufficient on its own to get Sinn Féin to change its policy.
"It is important for delegates to be reminded that Sinn Féin's position on policing has been consistent and is also very public and open," he said.
"Any major change in Sinn Féin policy will only be as a result of a special ard fheis on this subject. It will be up to delegates at such an ard fheis to debate and vote on this important issue."
Mr Kelly claimed Sinn Féin's opponents had used policing to prevent the growth of the party and the changes that needed to occur in society. However, he said the Sinn Féin leadership believed that in the context of a comprehensive agreement the issues of policing and justice could be resolved.
"Whatever happens in negotiations, key issues such as policing and justice cannot be put on the shelf to be dusted down when we achieve a united Ireland," he stressed. "People want us to deal with the everyday issues as well as the big picture. We must develop further our all-Ireland vision for justice and policing."
During the debate there were calls from some party members for Sinn Féin to refuse to participate in policing in Northern Ireland until there was either a timetable for British withdrawal or in the context of a 32-county Irish Republic.
Barry McColgan, a member of the executive of the party's youth wing, warned colleagues not to get involved in a police force which would be used to oppress the working-classes.
"The transfer of powers (from Westminster to Stormont) is a red herring," he said. "It would be transferring control of a flawed state police force."
Sinn Féin's Six Counties chairman Declan Kerney said while the sentiments of those urging the party not to move until there was a united Ireland were understandable, they were misplaced.
"Whether it is intended or not these motions send a message to the securocrats that Sinn Féin is long fingering this issue," he said. "We need to go toe to toe with the political detectives and break their counter-insurgency strategy.
"Let's send a message from today's debate to the political detectives and the securocrats in Castlereagh, Knock, that the days of PSNI cosmetics and Northern Ireland Office spin are over.
"We are going to confront and challenge you. We are unified, have got our strategy sussed and we are coming for you."
PA