The British government says that for Sinn Fein to be involved in talks the guns must be left at the door.

If the British government is prepared to say that the Unionists will not have a veto over British government policy and that guns, vetoes and injustices will all be left outside the door, then there is no good reason why talks cannot take place in an appropriate atmosphere.

Sinn Fein will not do Tory austerity.

We've had a very consistent position down the years. Sinn Fein is not in favour of abortion, and we resisted any attempt to bring the British 1967 Abortion Act to the north.

Sinn Fein is the fastest growing party on the island of Ireland.

But the fact is that the vast majority of Republicans support the Sinn Fein leadership.