Sinn Féin launch election bid

Published Monday, 04 April 2011

Condemnation of the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr dominated proceedings as Sinn Féin officially launched their 2011 Assembly election campaign at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

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The conference went ahead on Monday in the wake of the dissident murder of the young Catholic officer in Omagh at the weekend.

President Gerry Adams said the decision to press on was made after "careful consideration", adding that the dissidents must not be allowed to "set the agenda".

"The political process cannot become hostage to these unrepresentative groups," he said, speaking at the event. "The peace process is too important for that".

He was joined by the party's council and Assembly candidates, as well as Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and ministers Caítriona Ruane, Michelle Gildernew and Conor Murphy.

Sinn Féin Vice President Mary Lou McDonald said:"As republicans gathering here this morning and appealing for support from the electorate for the democratic demand of Irish unity and independence we are making an important stand," she said.

"The message from this launch is very clear. Sinn Féin will continue to defend the peace process. We will continue to defend the political process and we will continue to demonstrate that politics does work and will work in the months and years ahead."

Mr Adams and Ms McDonald are both elected members of the Daíl in the Irish Republic, where Sinn Féin now have 14 TDs. Mr Adams was elected in Louth in February after resigning his Stormont and Westminster seats.

"We are the only party that is in a position to bring about significant change north and south, and we remain committed to doing that," Mr Adams continued.

"We've got a lot to do. We want the support of citizens in tandem with us to continue this work. Sectarianism remains major problem which must be confronted - promoting equality is key."

The Assembly elections will take place on 5 May.

Comments

5 Comments

Billy in Lisburn wrote (409 days ago):

A united Ireland will not happen for at least a generation. The Republic cannot manage their own economy and are depending on handouts from the EU. Anyone who honestly thinks that the Republic will absorb 1.7 million citizens, our unemployed, our people on benefits, our health service, roads and infastructure into their economy is deluded to the point of lunacy. A united Ireland will only be considered when the Republic is free from crippling debt and prosperous and that is a long way away.

Aidan in Tyrone wrote (413 days ago):

Any Unionist that says that a United Ireland will never happen very clearly has not be keeping up to date with current affairs. I believe that a United Ireland it closer than ever. After this election there is a very good chance a Sinn Féin coming out on top. The unionist vote isnt what is used to be and any unionist worst his sash would no that. The unionist vote is devided and the young unionist voters are not there, they just dont care. If Sinn Féin do come out on top of this election (which I strongly believe that they will) this will spark a flame of nationist pride though out the whole Island of Ireland and people will see that Irish Unitity is closer then they think. Vótáil Sinn Féin

Ulysses32 in paulconlon@nilsc.org.uk wrote (415 days ago):

Perhaps you could get the unionists to shut up about God and Country then Norman. We'll all be happy then.

Mark in Belfast wrote (415 days ago):

To the comment above, you're far from right that irish unity won't happen. Sinn Fein have 14 TD's in the Dail down south and 27 MLA's in Stormont with that number likely to rise further a few seats in the upcoming election. The 'necklace' of Sinn Fein TD's around the border counties surrounding the state of Northern Ireland in itself weakens the northern state. I think you are totally underestimating the support for irish republicanism in the north and that another thing to bear in mind is that it only takes a few protestants from the unionist community to come across and vote for nationalist parties and there you will have a majority nationalist support.

henry in north belfast wrote (416 days ago):

wouldnt trust em as far as i could throw em and thats not far, from battledress to suits,amazing