Two major political decisions face Sinn Féin: whether to participate in the control and operation of policing in the North, and whether to become involved in forming a government in the Republic. Both issues were referred to future special party conferences at its weekend ardfheis in Dublin. The leadership got its way on them, but with difficulty. Their pairing reflects the consolidation of Sinn Féin as a real political force in the Republic as well as Northern Ireland after the standing down of the IRA last year.
With political success comes political responsibility. Sinn Féin seeks political power North and South and this ardfheis has demonstrated it is a serious player in terms of policy and organisation. It is the second largest party in Northern Ireland and has ambitions to become the largest all-Ireland party in coming years. In the Republic it has held the support of about 10 per cent of voters, according to successive opinion polls, which could double its existing Dáil representation. On the evidence of this weekend its rank-and-file membership is anxious to play a full political role but very uneasy about making the political compromises that would allow it to do so.
Events in the North will not give them the luxury of indefinite delay. Both governments want to see definite moves this year towards restoring devolved rule on a power-sharing basis. That cannot and should not happen unless Sinn Féin commits itself to joining the policing board and supporting the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Anything less would perpetuate political stalemate and probably destroy the chances of making real progress. There is an emerging consensus among all the other actors in the peace process that a power-sharing executive could not be formed without Sinn Féin making these decisions.
The party's political profile is definitely on the left of the Republic's political spectrum, judging by its new policy documents and ardfheis debates. It supports higher corporation and incomes taxes and a substantial redistributive programme on health, education, housing and welfare. Its economic policies favour encouragement for Irish business development and it remains sceptical about established integration policies in the European Union. The party's appeal is pitched towards the under-privileged and average income earners. If it is to maximise its electoral support it needs transfers as well as first preferences, which means its policies and the calibre of its candidates will come under increasing scrutiny.
These challenges are part and parcel of political transition and normalisation for a party still marked by military and criminal involvement. Sinn Féin must put that past fully behind it if the twin challenges of sharing power in the North and helping determine who governs in the Republic are to be met. Its leadership wants to face them and aspires to yield power through democratic means. On the evidence of this ardfheis its activists have yet to be convinced about how this should be done.