Adams in call for unity referendum
GERRY Adams says a referendum must be held on Irish unity.
The Sinn Fein leader, who has announced his intention to step down as party president, was speaking to supporters at a gathering in the Great Southern Hotel, Sligo last Thursday.
Billed as his last public appearance at a rally in the region. Deputy Adams said he expected the Irish Government to also lend its support for a referendum.
“We have to argue for a referendum on Irish unity and we have to win that referendum,” he told the gathering of some 400 people.
He added: “And, we must ensure that the Irish Government supports that proposition also and it is part of the Good Friday Agreement that it does so.”
Meanwhile, party Councillor Chris MacManus has confirmed to The Sligo Champion that he will be seeking the Sinn Féin nomination for the next General Election which commentators say could take place next year.
Councillor MacManus said: “Since the February ’16 election, I have consistently been asked am I going to run in the next General Election.
“Having come so close then, especially as a first-time candidate, has meant that many assumed I would seek the nomination again.
“This intensified over the last number of weeks, when it seemed an election was imminent. I was contacted by many supporters and members across the constituency asking me to put my name forward.
“Having consulted with my campaign team, I’ve decided to seek the Sinn Féin nomination to run in Sligo\Leitrim which includes south Donegal and north Roscommon.
“The three Sligo-based TDs are nothing more than cheerleaders for this government’s continuing neglect of this region.
The party has confirmed that two selection conventions are being held this coming weekend, with one in the Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday night next, to select a candidate for the Leitrim and North Roscommon part of the constituency and another in Sligo on Sunday to select a candidate for the Sligo and South Donegal part of the constituency. Of the four members of the Dáil elected in 2016 for Sligo-Leitrim, three of them are from Sligo, making Martin Kenny the only Leitrim TD.
It is expected that the proposed changes by the Constituency Boundary Commission, to Dáil constituencies will pass through the Houses of the Oireachtas this week.
This means that the boundaries will be changing for Sligo-Leitrim, as West Cavan will be leaving the constituency and being replaced by North Roscommon.
The area of North Roscommon coming into Sligo-Leitrim broadly includes all north of a line from Cortober to Boyle.