'We're ready to talk', Adams tells Paisley

Sinn Féin is ready to open talks with Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party about a resumption of power-sharing in the North following the “momentous” decision by the IRA to put away its guns, it was claimed tonight.

Party President Gerry Adams said the IRA statement was clear evidence of the commitment of republicans to the peace process and removes unionists’ excuse for non-engagement with republicans.

Flanked by 16 of the party’s representatives at Stormont, Dublin and Brussels, Mr Adams told a hushed press conference in Dublin that the IRA initiative could revive the peace process.

“We are quite prepared to speak to them (DUP) tomorrow morning but we will say very, very clearly that we do not accept any preconditions whatsoever on the all-Ireland institutions, the Good Friday institutions, the Assembly being put in place,” he said.

“There is no reason under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement why they cannot be in place tomorrow morning.”

The West Belfast MP said the IRA decision to end its campaign represented a courageous and confident initiative, which was a momentous defining point in the search for lasting peace and justice in Ireland.

Unionists, he insisted, must end their ambivalence to the Good Friday Agreement and make peace with the rest of the people of Ireland.

“I don’t want to be either provocative or patronising,” he said. “Ian Paisley represents the largest unionist party. He has a mandate, we recognise that and we respect that. We want to talk to him.”

Mr Adams recalled how Mr Paisley had claimed he would smash the republican party more than 30 years ago.

“The only point I would like to make and I would like Ian Paisley to reflect on this. Some years ago he said, and he said it at a press conference and he had a sledgehammer in his hand, and he said that he was going to smash Sinn Féin,” Mr Adams said.

“Is Sinn Féin smashed? It is not. Any of us can come off with these statements. This is not a day for the hard word. This is a day for time to absorb what has happened. Give Ian Paisley the space to absorb it.

“If Ian Paisley does not engage then the rest of us cannot sit waiting, and hanging about until the DUP comes to terms with the need for equality on this island.”

Mr Adams said the IRA statement also presented many challenges and opportunities for nationalists and republicans.

“There is an enormous responsibility on us to seize this moment and to make Irish freedom a reality,” he said.

“I would urge all Irish nationalists and republicans, including those who have shown such commitment as volunteers of the IRA, to put their undoubted talents and energy into building a new Ireland.”

He said he did not think many disaffected IRA members would join still-active splinter republican paramilitary groups.

“I certainly don’t believe for one moment that any genuine, serious, republican activist is going to go and join any of these other micro groups,” he said.

“And I can just appeal to people to stay united. I don’t think people should take any of this for granted, this is a very challenging leadership issue and for all levels.

“Yes it is a concern. But I would simply have a huge confidence in people’s good sense and I would appeal to everyone to stay united.”

Mr Adams said history would not be kind to any government which played politics with today’s developments.