SF: Extremists must not set agenda

Sinn Féin pressed ahead with the launch of its Assembly election campaign today, insisting that dissident republicans must not be allowed to hold the political process hostage.

Party president Gerry Adams said he and his colleagues thought hard whether to postpone the event in the wake of Pc Ronan Kerr’s murder, but decided that violent extremists must not set the agenda.

Some events scheduled for today by other parties contesting May’s election were called off.

But Mr Adams said: “Following the murder on Saturday of PSNI Constable Ronan Kerr Sinn Féin considered carefully whether or not we should proceed with this morning’s launch.

“But the more we thought about it and discussed it, the more important it seemed to us that the political process cannot become a hostage to the unrepresentative group which murdered Constable Kerr.

“The peace process is too important for that.

“So we stand here determined to keep making politics work. To keep defending the political institutions and keep delivering for ordinary people and demonstrating what republicanism is about.

“We are obviously conscious of the grief and pain being felt today by the family of Ronan Kerr, and Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson spoke for all of us over the weekend when they extended solidarity and support to the Kerr family.”

Sinn Féin is fielding 40 candidates in the North's 18 constituencies.

Mr Adams, now a TD in Louth, was joined at the launch in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall by party vice president Mary Lou McDonald.

“As republicans gathering here this morning and appealing for support from the electorate for the democratic demand of Irish unity and Independence we are making an important stand,” said Ms McDonald.

“Every one of our Assembly candidates goes forward to the people on our platform of a peaceful roadmap to a united Ireland. Each one is making their contribution in standing up to those small unrepresentative groupings who seek to subvert Irish republicanism for their own narrow, selfish ends.

“Sinn Féin, with the support of the people, will never let this happen.

“So the message from this launch is very clear. Sinn Féin will continue to defend the peace process. We will continue to defend the political process and we will continue to demonstrate that politics does work and will work in the months and years ahead.”

Mr Adams said republicans in the last Assembly election had overwhelmingly supported Sinn FEin's strategy.

“Four years ago we offered the people a choice,” he said.

“We asked you to vote for real change, to vote for positive leadership and to vote for the party that delivers – to vote for Sinn Féin.

“Sinn Féin promised to promote equality, to deliver stable and inclusive power-sharing government in the north, to bring about the transfer of policing and justice powers, and to advance towards Irish unity and national reconciliation.

“We pledged to continue to be bold and decisive, to stand up for ourselves by standing up to the governments and to those opposed to change.

“Sinn Féin said we would deliver for all citizens in a continuous process of change. We delivered.”

The former west Belfast MP and MLA hailed the achievements of Sinn Féin’s executive ministers in the last four years of power-sharing.

He added: “So don’t let the naysayers tell you that a locally accountable Executive and Assembly haven’t made a difference. They have. And will continue to.”

Mr Adams said tackling sectarianism and division had to be a priority of the Assembly.

“Sectarianism remains a major problem which must be confronted,” he said.

“All forms of intolerance are unacceptable. Promoting equality for all is the key.

“The future lies in Irish unity and national equality.”

Mr Adams praised his party’s performance in the Republic’s election, winning 14 seats.

“In February this year, on the same platform of republican values of citizenship and equality, we presented the electorate in the 26 Counties with an opportunity for them to make a stand,” he said.

“Fourteen Sinn Féin TDs were elected to Leinster House, the largest number since partition 90 years ago.

“Sinn Féin is an all-Ireland party. We are the only all-Ireland party. We are now in a position to effect significant change north and south and we are committed to doing so.”

He added: “Vote for change across Ireland, vote for leadership across Ireland, vote for Sinn Féin.”