Sinn Féin to set out position over presidential election

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Sinn Féin will set out its position for participation in the presidential election later.

The republican party has so far refused to clarify whether it will run its own candidate in the contest or support independent Catherine Connolly.

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the issue of Irish unity should be at the heart of the presidential race.

Speculation had previously surrounded whether Ms McDonald herself, Northern First Minister Michelle O’Neill or the party’s deputy leader in the Dáil, Pearse Doherty, might run.

Ms McDonald firmly ruled herself out of contention earlier this month, adding that it was her priority to “lead from the front” in holding the current Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition to account in the Dáil and offer an alternative government.

She also said this week that her preferred candidate has “a lot” of Irish language, which appears to also rule Ms O’Neill out.

Ms Connolly – who already claims the backing of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and large parts of the Labour Party – has said she would welcome the support of Sinn Féin.

Ms McDonald will announce her party’s position in Dublin on Saturday afternoon following a meeting of their ard chomhairle (executive committee).

You won't be surprised to know that for us the process of reunification, Ireland's future, that is at the heart of this campaign

Speaking in Belfast on Friday, the Sinn Féin leader said members had a “very good, very thorough deliberation across the party nationally”.

She added: “We will set out in great detail our logic and our rationale.

“This is a very important campaign. It is a moment where we have a chance to have a national conversation about the here and now, but more importantly about the future.

“You won’t be surprised to know that for us the process of reunification, Ireland’s future, that is at the heart of this campaign.

“We need a national conversation about Ireland’s young people, where they are now, how they are being failed and how we can help them succeed and prosper.”

Ms McDonald also described it as “absolutely scandalous” that people in Northern Ireland are not permitted to vote in the election.

Former GAA manager Jim Gavin will contest the election for Fianna Fáil while former government minister Heather Humphreys is standing for Fine Gael.

Nominations close on September 24th and the presidential election will take place on October 24th.

Outgoing president Michael D Higgins has been in the role since 2011, having served the maximum two terms.