We are ready to form a coalition

party supports motion to go into government

SINN Fein is ready to enter a coalition government after backing a motion at its Ard Fheis last night.

Deputy chief Mary Lou Mcdonald said the party is prepared to be a junior or senior partner to Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.

However, Gerry Adams will not lead it into any potential government in the Dail as the 69-year-old is set to announce his retirement during his speech tonight.

During her keynote address, Ms Mcdonald said: “We are serious not just about formulating effective policies but delivering them.

“This is not about signing up to say we want to be a junior party, this is us saying we believe we are ready.

“We have made it clear we will talk to anybody after the election.

“It is the people who will decide when we enter government, not our opponents who have every vested interest in keeping us on the outside.

“We will not go into government just to make up the numbers. We will

WAY FORWARD Gerry Adams, Michelle O’neill and Ms Mcdonald at Ard Fheis only enter government to deliver.” Mr Adams, who has been at the helm for 35 years, is not expected to step down immediately but will instead provide a timeline of when he will move aside for a younger leader.

The new boss could become Tanaiste if Sinn Fein agree to be junior partners in a future government.

Fianna Fail chief Micheal Martin was asked yesterday about a potential coalition with the party.

And he reiterated he would not lead his party into any government with Sinn Fein. Fine Gael chief Leo Varadkar has repeatedly said the same in the past.

During the conference’s opening night Sinn Fein’s Northern leader Michelle O’neill said the Irish and British governments must help resolve the Stormont impasse.

A delegation including Ms O’neill, Ms Mcdonald, Mr Adams and Conor Murphy met Leo Varadkar in Government Buildings this week.

And Ms O’neill previously confirmed a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May is scheduled for next week.

The Ard Fheis continues today with more than 3,000 delegates, the party’s largest ever attendance, descending on the RDS in Dublin.

The Ard Fheis will conclude with Mr Adams’ eagerly-awaited speech which he will deliver at 8.30pm.

The address is to be broadcast live on RTE One.

This is not about us signing up to say we want to be a junior party MARY LOU MCDONALD Dublin LAST night