United Ireland is 'inevitable': Adams

In a speech to supporters at a republican commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising at Carrickmore, Co Tyrone, Mr Adams said it was not impossible to win unionists over to republicanism.

“There will be a united Ireland. And our task, and that of all sensible Irish political leaders, should be to prepare for reunification,” he said.

“I am not saying this to frighten or de-stabilise unionism but because I believe that many unionists also recognise the change that is taking place.

“Consequently, their fears and worries of the future must be addressed in a comprehensive manner. We have to be prepared to give assurances and guarantees and to commit to protecting the rights of every citizen, without exception.

“Winning unionists over to republicanism will not be easy, but it is not impossible,” he added.

Mr Adams said many unionists were already conscious that successive British governments and unionist leaderships had used, abused and exploited them.

“We have to show them by our words and our actions, or our non actions, that Sinn Féin – that Irish republicanism, always a generous philosophy – is their future,” he said.

“That together we can build a future of equals on this island that empowers, and enriches and cherishes all the children of the nation equally.”

The Sinn Fein president last spoke at Carrickmore five years ago, a few days after the Good Friday Agreement was signed.

However, the peace process is currently stalled after the British and Irish governments delayed releasing their blueprint on the future of the Agreement amid fears that a proposed IRA statement would not go far enough to satisfy unionists.

Mr Adams insisted today the IRA statement was clear, unambiguous and addressed the concerns of unionists.

“Unionists need to stand on their own feet. We want to do a deal with them. The big question is do they want to do a deal with us at this time?” he asked.

“Unionists say they want clarity and certainty from republicans. Let me tell you that what the IRA is saying to them is very clear indeed. It is unprecedented, to the point that perhaps some of you may think the Army has gone too far.”

Mr Adams also hit out at the SDLP for engaging in attacks on Sinn Féin, replicating UUP demands while making no similar call for the UUP to make its position clear.

“Some of the comments of senior SDLP spokespersons would make Jeffrey Donaldson look like a moderate,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness urged the British and Irish governments to publish their joint document on the future of the Good Friday Agreement.

In a speech to supporters at another republican commemoration in Loup, Co Tyrone, Mr McGuinness said the IRA remained committed to the peace process.

“They have played a central role in the creation of the opportunity to achieve lasting peace with justice,” he said.

“They have shown courage, resilience and generosity in their actions in support of the peace process.”

In a rallying cry to supporters before the Northern Ireland Assembly elections scheduled for May 29, Mr McGuinness said negotiations are a crucial part of struggle.

“It is vital therefore that our political strength is increased for the political battles which will lie ahead – every vote does count,” he said.

“The roots of the current crisis lie in unionism’s inability to come to terms with change and the willingness of the British government to acquiesce to a unionist veto.”

“So get out there over the next four weeks – help make this the best ever election for Sinn Fein, help increase our strength in the negotiations and help take us further down the road to Irish unity,” he added.

Mr McGuinness said last week’s publication of part of the Stevens Report into collusion between the British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries in the murder of Catholics made a full, public, international, judicial inquiry into the murder of Catholic solicitor Pat Finucane inevitable.

"Hugely important questions are now at long last being raised about the activities of those responsible for the murders of nationalists,” he said.

“Who authorised this strategy? Who at the highest levels of the British government was aware that was happening? Who funded these activities? Who were they accountable to and critically, how widespread was it?”

Mr McGuinness said republicans, unionists, nationalists and loyalists have been the victims of the “terrible historical mistake that is the partitioning of Ireland”.

“Plunged into, and condemned to live in the rotten little sectarian construct that was the Northern State, we the people of that state and indeed the people of Ireland have been denied equality, justice and democracy,” he said.

“All of us, unionists and republicans, have been denied peace.” He added: “Irish history has been one of oppression, colonisation and domination. It has been our destiny, right up to the present time, to suffer the consequences of the greed, ambition and expansionism of a larger neighbour state.”