Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams tonight told Irish American supporters he was tired of hearing opponents claim republicans did not support law and order.
Mr Adams, who was addressing a Friends Sinn Féin fundraising dinner in New York, warned the British Government and the DUP they would have to conclude negotiations with his party on key policing issues before his party could move.
One such issue, he said, was a date for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.
'Republicans do support law and order,' he said. '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 Féin ard chomhairle and seek a special ard fheis.
'That is the democratic structure of the party which will take any decision about our future approach to policing.'
Survey on agreement
Results of a survey out today show that more than half of people in Northern Ireland back the St Andrews Agreement for reviving power-sharing.
The poll showed that 46.6% of Democratic Unionist voters supported the agreement. Over half of Sinn Féin voters supported the plan.
The opinion poll of 1,100 people was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the BBC.
The strongest support for the St Andrews proposals in the poll was among nationalist SDLP voters at 71.6%.
