Adams to lead party in Dáil

SINN Féin president Gerry Adams has said he has no intentions of taking a back seat in the Dáil or allowing one of the party’s experienced deputies to lead its parliamentary delegation.

He said that as party president he would also assume the leadership in the Dáil and he thanked Caoimhgín Ó Caoláin for his work during the last term.

“I am the president of the party so I will be the leader of this party,” he said.

Mr Adams led the party’s 14-strong team of deputies to the Dáil yesterday and praised the TDs who kept it in the limelight despite its depleted representation between 2002 and 2007.

“Caoimhgín in very tough times flew the Sinn Féin flag.... and did so in a very positive way,” he said.”

Mr Ó Caolain, standing alongside Mr Adams, insisted he had no ambitions to retain his prominent speaking position in the Dáil and would support the man who will take his place.

“I have absolute faith in Gerry Adams and I look forward to being a part of that in the 31st Dáil.

“It is a day of celebration of a new day and a new beginning.... I am here to play my part in any way I can,” he said.

The party’s star performer, Pearse Doherty, also said he was happy for the party president to be the leader.

Mr Adams was not elected by his fellow Sinn Féin TDs to lead them and his position will have to be ratified by the party’s Ard Comhairle.

Mr Adams said he would not reveal who will sit on his front bench until a later stage.

“Our team are going to meet when the Government is announced we will then announce our team and portfolios then.”

Mr Adams also said it was too early to consider if Sinn Féin would seek to form an alliance with other left wing forces in the Dáil in order to relegate Fianna Fáil in terms of parliamentary priority.

He said its considerations would be based on whether there were groups who had shared economic and social philosophies.

“Any test of who we will work with is on whether they are prepared to stand against this universal social charge,” he said.