Nationalist reaction: Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, in an initial response to the British and Irish blueprint for restoring devolution, has urged the DUP to seize the opportunity to enter into a powersharing government at Stormont.
Mr Adams said the party leadership would consult in the coming days with its ruling ardchomhairle and also with Assembly members before responding to the proposals published by the Taoiseach and British prime minister yesterday.
He appeared, however, to be guardedly positive about the British-Irish roadmap for reinstating the northern Executive and Assembly. "It appears that the two governments are saying to the unionists, and especially the DUP, that they have to decide if they are prepared to join the rest of us in moving forward in partnership through a powersharing government," said Mr Adams.
"And if they do not do that, the two governments are committed to moving ahead to implement all other elements of the Good Friday agreement. Nationalists and republicans will be sceptical about this commitment and it will be tested in the period ahead," he added.
"I would appeal to unionism to see this upcoming period as a positive opportunity. There are many problems - water charges, cutbacks in health and education - which local politicians can straighten out better than any British direct-rule minister," said Mr Adams.
He said Sinn Féin would seek assurances from the two governments "about the new joint government arrangements and the accelerated all-Ireland co-operation and action that will replace the Assembly if the DUP is not prepared to share power".
"Whatever the two governments do, there is no going back to the days of unionist domination because Sinn Féin will not allow it. I say that as a gentle reminder to the DUP that the only way they will be part of institutions is on the basis of equality and the Good Friday agreement," added Mr Adams.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the time had come for all parties to give their backing to the Belfast Agreement. "They have to live up to all their responsibilities under it - on powersharing and on policing. That is the only way for us to make progress. It must be the focus of the parties and the governments in the coming months," he said.
He expressed concerns that the proposals were "right up the DUP's street". He hoped, however, that a "path to restoration" of the Assembly and Executive could be found.
