Quote

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.

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.

The most important thing to say is that Sinn Fein isn't going back to anything. We are a party on the move.

I'm not going to do anything that sees a Tory government be likely.

I'm not going to do anything that heralds in a Tory government.

Voting Labour in the past hasn't protected Scotland against Tory governments.

In my view, a united Ireland is inevitable, and it is certainly more likely than a voluntary coalition which doesn't include Sinn Fein.

Sinn Fein is the only political party on this island working to end that fracture in their nation and to achieving the Republic set out in the proclamation.

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.

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.