Sinn Féin has tonight moved to address unionist doubts about the party's commitment to support the PSNI and the future of the IRA.
In an interview to be published on Thursday in this week's An Phoblacht magazine, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams says the party is now fully supporting the police and the criminal justice system and will continue to do so.
He also states that the IRA has removed itself from the picture, and that there is no reason or excuse for armed actions.
The comments are pitched to bolster those in the DUP who want to form a power-sharing government at Stormont next Monday.
On policing, Mr Adams says Sinn Féin ministers will sign the ministerial pledge supporting the PSNI.
He says the party will take its seats on the policing board and the district policing partnerships.
He says the IRA's war is over, there is no reason or excuse for armed actions, and there is peaceful way to achieve political change, equality, justice and ultimately Irish freedom.
As to whether the DUP will cut a deal with Sinn Fein next Monday, Mr Adams says he is 'optimistic and hopeful that this time we will achieve the breakthrough that has eluded us for so long'.
Speaking before a meeting with the Taoiseach and Finance Minister Brian Cowen in Dublin this evening, Mr Adams said the party's position had been 'very, very clear' for some time.
He said all the outstanding issues had been dealt with and, more importantly, the people had spoken.
Mr Adams said he disagreed with DUP leader Ian Paisley on more things than he agreed with him, but that he had to respect his mandate.
The party's candidate for the post of Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said he believed it was odds on that a power-sharing executive would be formed on 26 March, because it was the will of the people.
