But the fact is that the vast majority of Republicans support the Sinn Fein leadership.
Sinn Fein is the fastest growing party on the island of Ireland.
Sinn Fein has the potential and capacity to become the vehicle for the attainment of republican objectives.
The British government says that for Sinn Fein to be involved in talks the guns must be left at the door.
Sinn Fein has demonstrated the ability to play a leadership role as part of a popular movement towards peace, equality and justice.
I felt that the IRA, in the context of Irish history, and Sinn Fein were a legitimate force that had to be recognized, and you wouldn't have peace without them.
The most important thing to say is that Sinn Fein isn't going back to anything. We are a party on the move.
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.
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 Sinn Fein, as I've already indicated, their leaders have already indicated that's what they want to achieve - once we get that credible statement, then we can get around the table and start to move forward, and I'm confident we can do so.
