When others stood idly by, you and your families gave your all, in defence of a risen people and in pursuit of Irish freedom and unity.

Sinn Fein has productively taken the example of South Africa and, as we develop the peace process, we continue to use examples from South Africa.

The days of humiliation, of second-class citizens and of inequality are over and gone forever.

Republican patience with how unionism deals with the political institutions, and with key issues like equality and human rights, will be tested because, obviously, there will be a battle a day on these matters. So lets face up to all of this with our eyes wide open.

For over 30 years, the IRA showed that the British government could not rule Ireland on its own terms.

Peace cannot be built on exclusion. That has been the price of the past 30 years.

Your determination, selflessness and courage have brought the freedom struggle towards its fulfillment.