With just a week before polling day in the Irish election, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said Irish reunification remains one of the party's three main priorities.

And its manifesto, unveiled yesterday, also confirmed there would be a referendum on a united Ireland "to be held simultaneously, north and south."

A period of intensive horse-trading, most likely leading to another coalition government, will follow the election and continue for some weeks.

At a press conference launching the manifesto yesterday, Mr Adams reiterated his line that the party is now in government in the North "and we're ready for government in the south.

"We are seeking a mandate for government here (but) we are not interested in being in government for the sake of it. Our priorities are a strong and vibrant economy, strong public services and Irish re-unification," he said.

In government the manifesto said the party would complete a Green Paper on Irish Unity within one year, identifying steps and measures to promote and assist a successful transition to a United Ireland.

Invoking the vision of the 1916 Easter Proclamation, Mr Adams said Sinn Fein was committed to A United Ireland where all the people of our island look forward to a shared and peaceful future and an Ireland of equals where everyone's rights are guaranteed.

"Ireland has changed greatly over the past decade. The peace process driven by Sinn Fein has delivered changes many never thought possible," he said.

"The all-Ireland agenda has progressed dramatically in recent years. As a consequence, Ireland is now more peaceful and economically prosperous than ever before. But we still live in a divided Ireland."