Addressing a unionist audience at Crilly Orange Hall, Co Tyrone, on Friday night, the First Minister angrily rejected the Sinn Fein man's claims that elements of the DUP do not want to share power with Roman Catholics.

Unionists 'don't want a Catholic about the place' - Adams

He said he treated Mr Adams' comments with both "pity and scorn", suggesting they were an attempt to drag Northern Ireland backwards.

They also showed that the republican leader was trying to trying to make himself relevant when he had become "a sad spectacle", said Mr Robinson.

And while Mr Adams claimed the DUP was anti-Catholic, it was the party attempting to work government for the good of Protestant and Catholic, alike, the First Minister declared, while the West Belfast MP was blocking the work of government and delivering for no one.

The fresh row began when Mr Adams told a party meeting on Thursday.

He claimed: "It is obvious that there are elements with the DUP who do not agree with power sharing and partnership as a political model or a practical politics," said Mr Adams.

"In addition, there are clearly elements of the DUP who really don't want to have a Catholic about the place. They are opposed to power sharing in any form."

The sectarian approach of the DUP was evident in the "abusive" way some of its members attacked the Irish language, the Sinn Fein president further alleged.

Mr Robinson said: "What a sad spectacle Gerry Adams has become. He has resorted to making outlandish and absurd claims in order to grab some media attention and seek support for his party's present absurd position.

"The central accusation made by Mr Adams is wrong. The DUP is committed to working the Assembly for the maximum benefit of all of the people of Northern Ireland.

"The DUP is involved in the real work of delivering for our community – Protestant and Roman Catholic – on the issues that matter to them: health, housing, roads, schools and jobs."

He continued: "The contrast between the approach that we have taken and the approach of Mr Adams could not be clearer. On the day he was making false allegations of a sectarian nature, I was meeting local business leaders who need the help of the devolved government in these trying economic times.

"An Irish Language Act will not help anyone struggling to pay their utilities bills. The devolution of policing and justice isn't going to heat a pensioner's home during the winter months. It is time for Mr Adams and his party to get to work on behalf of the people who elected them.

"West Belfast has some of the most deprived communities in Northern Ireland – both Protestant and Roman Catholic- and what is their MP doing about it – banging on about his party-political objectives.