SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams has described as a DUP “distraction” and “scare” tactic the issue of whether Peter Robinson or Martin McGuinness will be entitled to take the post of First Minister after polling day on May 5th.
However, Mr Adams, at the launch of his party’s manifesto in the Grand Opera House in Belfast yesterday, acknowledged there was a symbolism attached to whether a republican or unionist leader should be in a position to be First Minister.
The two main competing parties in the election are the DUP and Sinn Féin and whichever wins most seats will be able to nominate for the First Minister post.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has signalled he could be amenable to changing the posts to “Joint First Ministers” if Sinn Féin were the largest party. However, such a move would be humiliating for unionism, many unionists concede.
Mr Robinson has said while the DUP is not making this a manifesto issue, for unionist voters it is a major issue on the doorsteps.
Mr Adams said the posts of First Minister and Deputy First Minister were like “Siamese twins” in that they were co-equal.
“I think this is a distraction. It is an attempt to scare and to galvanise unionist voters to prevent Sinn Féin from assuming what would be a symbolic post.
“I think that Martin McGuinness has shown inspirational leadership. I think many, many people from the unionist section of our people recognise that. I don’t think they feel at all threatened or at all galvanised by this issue.”
The Sinn Féin manifesto calls for a referendum on Irish unity and the creation of a new all-Ireland constitution, a draft form of which would be drawn up by an all-Ireland constitutional forum.
The party also wants Northern representation in the Dáil for the North’s 18 Westminster MPs and the right for people in the North to vote in Irish presidential elections.
Mr Adams said he did not know whether there would be a referendum by 2016, nor did he know what the result would be, but “there will be a referendum at some point which will vote for Irish unity and I look forward very much to that.
“We are a united Ireland party, an all-Ireland party, indeed the only all-Ireland party. And the recent successes in the South illustrate the point that the republican project is growing and succeeding. Our manifesto is realistic; it is also deliverable.”
He pledged there would be no domestic water charges and that Sinn Féin would block any attempt by the next executive to raise university fees.
Mr Adams said Sinn Féin wanted the harmonisation of all-Ireland taxation and regulation policies. It also wanted more fiscal powers transferred from London to Stormont so that the Northern executive could set its own preferred corporation tax and raise revenue by other means.
MAIN POINTS
* Referendum on Irish unity
* A new all-Ireland constitution
* Reinstatement of 50:50 Catholic/Protestant recruitment to the PSNI
* Transfer of more fiscal powers from Westminster to Stormont
* Harmonise tax systems North and South
* Develop an all-Ireland economic recovery plan
* Four main banks to create an economic development bond of £400 million over 4 years.
* A phone mast levy to generate £160 million over 4 years.
* Credit unions to create £100 million social fund.
* Northern MPs to have representation in the Dáil