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 British government says that for Sinn Fein to be involved in talks the guns must be left at the door.
Sinn Fein will not do Tory austerity.
The sheer scale of what the Tories are attempting to do is staggering. But Sinn Fein will not agree to this ideologically driven austerity agenda.
In my view, a united Ireland is inevitable, and it is certainly more likely than a voluntary coalition which doesn't include Sinn Fein.
While others have walked away from their responsibilities, the Sinn Fein team will work with the other ministers in partnership to deliver for all the people.
We are not going into government with Sinn Fein.
Sinn Fein say, "The British government are buggers".
Part of my mission, if I have that opportunity as leader, is to take Sinn Fein on.
Sinn Fein is the fastest growing party on the island of Ireland.
But the fact is that the vast majority of Republicans support the Sinn Fein leadership.
Sinn Fein has the potential and capacity to become the vehicle for the attainment of republican objectives.
The most important thing to say is that Sinn Fein isn't going back to anything. We are a party on the move.
On a number of occasions, I have made it clear that Sinn Fein policy was to argue for the establishment of an independent, international truth commission.
I'm not going to be known as the Sinn Fein Minister who did the bidding of a Tory administration which is focused on decimating the welfare state.
Quite simply, I maintained contact with Sinn Fein and believed that there had to be a political, not a military, solution to the situation in Northern Ireland.