THE leaders of Stormont's five main parties met the secretary of state yesterday as efforts to restore the devolved institutions began.
The assembly is meet for the first time in the new mandate next Monday, with the deadline for the election of a first and deputy minister falling a fortnight later on March 27.
Negotiations on establishing the new power-sharing government are expected to intensify tomorrow when Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan arrives in Belfast.
The talks will focus on the establishment of an executive and other outstanding issues including addressing the legacy of the Troubles.
Secretary of State James Brokenshire is keen that a programme for government is agreed quickly, alongside a one-year budget.
He has insisted that the content of the talks will be confidential.
Speaking after Sinn Féin's meeting with the secretary of state yesterday, northern leader Michelle O'Neill said in a statement that her party had been given a "very strong mandate" for the negotiations.
"The people have had their say and the message is very clear – they don’t want minorities or majorities, they want equality," she said.
The Mid-Ulster MLA said unionism needed to "live up to its responsibility to share power" and Sinn Féin would be meeting the other Stormont parties and would "tell how we see it and what it'll take to fix it".
Ms O'Neill said the two governments would also be urged to meet their responsibilities.
"We will confront the two governments who have shamefully undermined and failed in their duty to protect, nurture and develop the Good Friday Agreement," she said.
"What is required is genuine power sharing and partnership with republicans, based on equality and respect and mutual respect for our Irish national identity."
Sinn Féin's northern leader made no reference to the DUP in her statement or its embattled leader Arlene Foster.
Stormont's two biggest parties held their first post-election meeting yesterday afternoon and are due to meet again today.
Sinn Féin has previously said it will not accept Mrs Foster as first minister until the public inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive is concluded.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said his party would also not agree to the DUP leader's nomination as first minister while a "cloud of scandal continues".
However, reflecting the result of last week's poll, which saw the end of unionism's Stormont majority, he sounded a conciliatory note: "We're not out to destroy your culture or identity, we're out to work with you."
Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry warned that the "bitterness" between Sinn Féin and the DUP was "more extreme than it has been in quite some time".
He also said the secretary of state needed to remain impartial in the negotiations.
"At times, the UK government is too close to the perspective of the DUP, rather than acting as an impartial broker to the parties," he said.
"He needs to reflect on the potential damage that has been done by some of those comments."
