Our ability to make a decision about the declaration is hampered by the British government being reluctant to give us the clarification which we require.

The reality is that the people that we represent are no longer going to be second-class citizens in their own country.

Freedom can be gained only at the point of an IRA rifle, and I apologize to no one for saying that we support the freedom fighters of the IRA.

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

Along with that ongoing process Sinn Fein took a decision to establish a peace commission which had the responsibility to travel around the country to receive submissions from the general public, also our opponents.

That's healthy and good for us that there are people who are prepared to question what we are doing.

The fact is that a car used by Gerry Adams and myself during the course of the Mitchell review was bugged by elements within British military intelligence.