People in Northern Ireland are now ready for the transfer of long-awaited policing powers to Stormont, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said today.
The Sinn Fein chief negotiator told his party's ard fheis in Dublin that the controversial issue was crucial to underpinning equality and partnership across all communities.
"People want the police service and the judicial system equipped with the laws to tackle criminals and thugs," said the Derry MP.
"People want local politicians passing laws to tackle these issues as well as the issues of repeat offenders and bail; violent crime, anti-social behaviour; street drinking and much more."
Mr McGuinness told delegates that claims of a lack of confidence within the unionist community were "bogus".
"Public confidence exists now for transfer to take place," he added to applause from the ard fheis.
Republicans have begun engaging with policing structures in the past two years and were ready to shape the future of policing and putting needs of communities first, the MP added.
"But policing was just one battle ground to our struggle to promote equality and power sharing. These issues run across policing and justice but they are crucial in creating and sharing wealth."
Mr McGuinness also said the transition from Ian Paisley to Peter Robinson as First Minister has not been smooth.
He added: "As a plain speaking Derry man let me say that unionist majority rule is gone and gone forever. Like apartheid in South Africa it is consigned to the dustbin of history. It cannot and will not be resuscitated and the DUP leadership know this and know it well."
He also criticised the SDLP for "sitting on the sidelines, griping and huffing" at crucial periods of decision-making in past years.
He told the audience: "Sinn Fein is committed to partnership government. Sinn Fein is committed to all-Ireland government. We are committed to delivering change in the here and now, for the local communities who elect each and everyone of us, for people across the north for everyone across the island."
At the ard fheis, Stormont Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle Gildernew also vowed to give priority support to farmers, fishermen and rural communities in the current difficult economic times.
"I will work to ensure that their interests are advanced around the Executive table in the north," she said.
"Sinn Fein is the champion of a rural Ireland that has been neglected and abandoned by Dublin, and ill-served by London."
The minister is investing more than £500 million into rural areas over the next five years.
Party leader Gerry Adams’ keynote address this evening will focus on job creation, the Lisbon Treaty, plans for Irish re-unification and tackling outstanding policing and truth and reconciliation matters in Northern Ireland.