THIS week's assembly election is hugely important for the future of politics on this island.
It presents an opportunity for a new approach, building on the significant progress we have already made with the Fresh Start agreement, to deliver better, more effective government for all.
We need to see a new era of genuine partnership, with political parties working together to ensure we continue to make progress.
In government, Sinn Féin has already made a real and practical difference.
We have led on the progressive measures taken by the Executive, ring-fenced health spending, transformed the schools estate across the north, created 40,000 jobs, as well as blocking water charges, keeping student fees affordable and protecting free prescriptions and pensioners' travel.
There is no doubt we have faced many challenges in recent years, not least the relentless Tory onslaught on our public services and on those most in need.
But we have faced these challenges head on, even when others said it was impossible and were prepared to settle for less, and we secured unique supports and protections including half a billion pounds to support those in need in our society.
We achieved this despite the negative agendas of London and Dublin governments wedded to the politics of cuts and austerity.
We achieved this despite the relentless negativity of smaller parties who opposed the agreement and who, only weeks from the election, can't tell the electorate if they want to be in the government or in the opposition.
Parties which have set out endless uncosted and unfunded election promises they will never deliver. Parties which call for joined-up government, while voting negatively at every opportunity.
It's long past time to move beyond this narrow, self-serving point-scoring. We need a more responsible, a more mature approach to politics in the assembly because we know when we have worked together collectively we have made progress.
I am certainly determined and committed to providing the positive and experienced leadership that will deliver more progress.
Progress on jobs, on improving our health service, on gender equality. Progress in eradicating sectarianism, homophobia and bigotry and progress in delivering equality for every one of our citizens.
In this important year when we are commemorating the centenary of the Easter Rising we reflect on how far we have come. The work of building a new, inclusive and progressive Ireland is far from complete. But Sinn Féin is firmly committed to completing this work-in-progress.
Sinn Féin is the only all-Ireland party, attracting almost half a million votes north and south. We have elected representatives in every part of the island and we have a vision for a united Ireland in a progressive Europe to create the Ireland of equality envisaged in the Proclamation of 1916.
We have come an enormous distance by talking and working together. Despite the negative voices and the challenges we face, I am determined to continue with the positive and forward-looking leadership which will deliver further progress, stability and prosperity for all our people.
