GERRY Adams yesterday dismissed suggestions that his party was no longer interested in getting devolution back up-and-running and insisted Stormont would provide a strategic route to a united Ireland.
His remarks came as talks aimed at restoring power-sharing continued in Belfast.
While many of the main players decamped to either London and Dublin, a series of bilateral meetings took place at Parliament Buildings.
James Brokenshire and DUP leader Arlene Foster were both in London for talks on the confidence and supply deal that would enable Theresa May's minority government to function, while Sinn Féin's seven MPs were also in the city for their Westminster induction and a meeting with the secretary of state.
The first roundtable talks in the Stormont process are expected to take place tomorrow.
The parties have been given a June 29 deadline to reach consensus and re-establish a ruling executive - but developments at Westminster have overshadowed the negotiations.
Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance insist Mr Brokenshire can no longer chair the talks, which have already passed two previous deadlines without agreement.
They are adamant the British government can no longer cast itself as a neutral facilitator, given the Theresa May's likely deal with the DUP.
Mr Brokenshire has rejected the criticism, claiming Westminster affairs are "entirely separate".
Speaking in Dublin, Mr Adams dismissed suggestions that republicans were disengaging from the devolved institutions.
"We want into the institutions, because that is what the people desire, that is what the people voted for," he said.
"But also because we think strategically that is the way to a united Ireland."
Ahead of Enda Kenny's formal resignation as taoiseach, Mr Adams said new Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar needed to put his efforts into restoring power-sharing north of the border.
"The focus has to be on plan A, which is to get the institutions in place, that is our focus and we would like to think it will be the focus of the incoming taoiseach," he said.
Meanwhile, Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry warned that the talks process is bereft of "impetus and momentum".
"I understand there is a new UK government and changes in the government in the Republic but there remains no impetus to this process, which doesn't inspire confidence," he said.
"We need people to step up to the plate and do so without delay."
The North Down MLA said the talks were meant to be an "intensive three-week process" but he bemoaned the fact that there had been no plenary.
"While separate bilateral meetings are useful, it's not until you get an all-party meeting around the same table that you get a true sense of everyone's intentions," he said.
