As he prepares to stand down from West Belfast to face voters in the Irish Republic, Gerry Adams plans to launch a new cross-border study initiative next week.

Marking the 90th anniversary of Partition, Sinn Fein says the plan will focus on “collating views from a wide spectrum of public and community opinion on the many disadvantages of the border”.

Called ‘Bridging the Border — Reconnecting Communities’ the scheme is to be unveiled during a ‘uniting Ireland’ rally this Monday in the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan town (7.30pm).

Sinn Fein says the aim is to identify and set out proposals to tackle social and economic issues that affect what it calls the “border corridor”.

Mr Adams is giving up his Westminster seat in west Belfast to contest the anticipated Irish General Election early next year in Co Louth.