SF welcomes all-island election contest move

Sinn Fein today welcomed "belated" calls by Fianna Fail to put candidates up for election in the North.

The party called on other parties to follow suit and organise and contest elections on a 32-county basis.

Delegates at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis in west Dublin yesterday passed a motion calling on representatives to stand for seats at Stormont, although sources admit the party’s executive committee is unlikely to adopt it as policy.

Dublin Sinn Fein councillor Sean Crowe said today the move was "welcome if belated".

"The Fianna Fail leadership should move to act immediately on this motion and begin to organise on a national basis," he said.

"At present Sinn Fein is the only party which organises across the island.

"Considering it has taken Fianna Fail 80 years to become an All-Ireland party some may well question the motivation behind this move."

He added: "However it is to be welcomed and other parties in this state should follow suit and organise throughout the island."

The Ard Fheis motion means the party could potentially stand for elections in Stormont for the first time in its 75 year history.

The issue will be raised at all levels of the party machine, but with Stormont close to collapse it is almost certain the party will not put up candidates, one party source said.