Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has strongly criticised Michael Noonan for questioning who runs the party.

In an interview with The Irish Times the Minister for Finance said there were too many questions surrounding the party.

Mr Noonan said: “There are too many events. Whether it is the suspicion that the leadership follows instruction from her men in west Belfast or whether the influence of the Slab Murphys of this world along the border or whether people involved in illegalities like cigarette smuggling and diesel laundering, whether they’re out of Sinn Féin once removed, or whether they have some role it is very hard to know at the moment. I certainly don’t think they should be let near Government.”

Speaking on Sunday Mr Adams said the comments were “beyond contempt” and “deeply offensive”.

He said he would not sink to Mr Noonan’s level who Mr Adams alleged was trying to frighten people and stop them voting Sinn Féin.

Mr Adams said: “If you throw enough muck at people some of it will stick.”

The Sinn Féin leader said the authority in the party was its members and Mr Noonan knew that.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also criticised the Minister’s comments.

He said they were “totally irresponsible remarks which take no account whatsoever of the impact they have on the North of the country”.

Mr McGuinness added: “The peace process is a very delicate flower and we have worked hard for 20 years to get it to where it is today.

"Do the people who make those remarks think for one minute Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster would be in Government with me if they thought somebody else was dictating the agenda? Not in a million years."