Gerry Adams willing to join talks on minority government

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has insisted he is willing to speak to Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil about facilitating a minority government.

Mr Adams said he had no objection to talking to the two parties, but neither Micheál Martin or Enda Kenny have contacted him since the general election.

Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, the Sinn Féin leader said he was willing to convene an ardfheis to debate forming a minority government.

Mr Adams said: “Would we talk to them? The answer to that question is yes.

“If in the course of all of that, although it would be very, very challenging, if we came up with a programme for government which did the business as far as we were concerned, our leadership would consider that.

“Yes, if we thought that was an advance and would help to deal with these issues we have just talked about, including in the centenary year the issue of Irish unity, of course we would have to bring that back to an ardfheis.”

Huge crisis

Mr Adams said he believed it was not in the common good or the national interest “to return either of these two parties to a position of government”.

“There is as you have said a huge crisis in people’s lives caused mostly by the policies of these two conservative parties.

“So, my answer to this is in response to a question. Would we talk? Yes.”

Sinn Féin held its annual ardfheis in the Convention Centre in Dublin this weekend, where 2,500 delegates attended.

Mr Adams used his televised speech on Saturday night to criticise Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin for engaging in “nasty little soundbites”. He said the comments would make the Democratic Unionist Party blush.

Mr Adams said “Fianna Fáil voters did not vote to give Fine Gael another term”.

“Micheál Martin knows that Enda Kenny will not resolve the homeless[ness] crisis, the health crisis or the crisis in living which many families are enduring.”

Mr Adams, who was re-elected as leader by the party on Saturday night, said Mr Martin was only willing to put Fine Gael into government to stop the growth of Sinn Féin.

“I have a message for Teachta Martin. You promised in your manifesto to abolish Irish Water and to scrap water charges.

Alternative

“Water charges must go. Irish Water must go. Many citizens thought they were voting for an alternative when they voted Independent.

“Some of these TDs now stand with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. How independent is that?”

Mr Adams said his party would make the issues of housing, health, rural Ireland and the repeal of the eighth amendment of the Constitution a priority in the 32nd Dáil.

The Sinn Féin president also said the party would argue against a British exit from the European Union.

The party voted this weekend to introduce new disciplinary rules, including the establishment of an investigation committee to examine internal complaints. The new body will have the power to suspend or expel a party member.