Adams seeks SF power-sharing role on both sides of border

Election 2007

Monday, March 05, 2007

By Chris Thornton

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has confirmed that his party has its eyes on being in government on both sides of the border in order to "fulfil our historic mission".

With his party fighting Assembly elections in Northern Ireland this week and a general election in the Republic later this year, Mr Adams used the ard fheis on Saturday to refocus the party's attitude on becoming part of a Dublin coalition.

Just five weeks after their extraordinary ard fheis gave conditional approval to policing in Northern Ireland, hundreds of Sinn Fein delegates returned to Dublin's RDS at the weekend for their regular annual conference.

During his leader's speech, Mr Adams confirmed that Sinn Fein is " seeking a mandate for government in this jurisdiction".

In previous years Mr Adams has side stepped internal scepticism about the move by saying it was a question of whether Fianna Fail or any other party could measure up to being in government with Sinn Fein.

But on Saturday he indicated his intentions, saying: "Let there be no doubt about this. Sinn Fein wants to be in government in both parts of this island.

"We want to be in government in both parts of this island because that is a means to fulfil our historic mission to bring about a truly national republic and a truly national government," he said.

However, another special ard fheis would be required to gain the party's approval for entering government in the Republic.

Mr Adams devoted most of his speech to southern issues, but he was not about to throw away an hour's worth of prime time television days before an election.

The first part of the speech concerned Northern Ireland, the peace process and the upcoming elections.

Mr Adams said politicians had a "duty" to oppose "additional water charges and the unfair rates burden being imposed by British direct rule Ministers".

And looking to the aftermath of the election, he said the DUP has "big questions to answer in the coming weeks".

To applause, he said that if the DUP will not join Sinn Fein in government by the March 26th deadline, "then the process will move on without them" .

"They have no veto. They cannot stop the process of change."

Many Northern candidates were absent from the ard fheis as campaigning continued.

During his speech, Mr Adams paid tribute to Mitchel McLaughlin, who stepped down from the party executive and as general secretary.

Mr McLaughlin was replaced as general secretary by Rita O'Hare, who is officially wanted in Northern Ireland for the shooting of a British soldier 30 years ago. She is one of the individuals known as the on-the- runs.

James Monaghan, who is wanted in Colombia, where he skipped bail after allegedly aiding FARC terrorists, spoke to the ard fheis about cutting carbon emissions.