Sinn Féin gather for conference

The pre-election party conference season continues today with the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Dublin.

The party aims to field candidates in most of the state’s 43 constituencies for the poll, expected in May.

While Labour and the Progressive Democrats have made tax cutting pledges, Sinn Fein will woo voters with new policy ideas on housing, health, road safety and worker rights.

Trade union officials and the leader of the political wing of Spanish terror group ETA are guest speakers at the two-day event in the RDS venue.

Sinn Féin’s chief negotiator Martin McGuinness will deliver the keynote opening address tonight while president Gerry Adams will make his televised speech tomorrow evening.

This year’s Ard Fheis has been shortened from three to two days because supporters will travel to Northern Ireland on Sunday for last-minute campaigning before the March 7 elections for the Stormont Assembly.

The Ard Fheis will be addressed tonight by Siptu president Jack O’Connor and Unison union official Patricia McKeown.

The leader of the Basque’s Batasuna party, Arnaldo Otegi and ANC representative Ronnie Kasrils are guest speakers on Saturday.

One of the conference motions calls for the appointment of a junior Government minister with responsibility for all-Ireland development.

Another proposal to provide free Irish and English language lessons for newly-arrived immigrants will also be voted upon by delegates.