Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams today said he intends to lead the party into the next general election.
He was speaking ahead of the Sinn Féin ardfheis in Killarney, Co Kerry, which takes place in Killarney, Co Kerry, this evening and tomorrow. The economy, Irish unity and the treaty referendum are expected to dominate proceedings at the ardfheis.
Rejecting speculation about his leadership intentions, he said it wasn’t an issue. Asked when it would become an issue he said: “Whenever I make a decision. Who knows when that could happen. It isn’t an issue.”
Speaking to reporters before the start of the party’s ardfheis, Mr Adams said the leadership speculation "was always an issue of amusement and bemusement to me".
“Every year it’s a bit of a hardy annual,” he said, adding he always gave the same answer. “The party and I will know when is the right time for me to leave.” He was “quite comfortable doing the job I’m doing because there is such a strong team,” Mr Adams said.
Sinn Féin was “building consensus” north and south. This was “not a time to resile from your responsibility and your duty”.
“It is a great time to be involved in Sinn Féin, particularly when republican politics and the core values of republicanism are so necessary across this island," the Louth TD said. “We’ve a great team. We’ve always had collective leadership. I’ve never seen myself as anything other than part of collective team."
He said the Sinn Féin ardfheis “decides who leads the party” and if people wanted to have a say on that they should “join the party”.
On the fiscal treaty, Mr Adams said it was “all to play for” with a week left to run. He said the “establishment” ran a negative campaign.
Asked about the length of time he would talk in his leadership speech about the fiscal treaty - which would determine the time the Taoiseach had in his national address to respond, the Sinn Féin leader said: “The way to save everybody checking their stopwatch . . . is for the Taoiseach to come forward and debate these issues out.”
Stating it was “clearly a crucially important referendum”, Mr Adams said Enda Kenny clearly believed people should vote Yes. “He should respect them, and as the Taoiseach he should come forward and put his reasons, and I will put forward my reasons.” He said it was a “very positive and patriotic” thing to vote No.
Asked how a Yes vote would reflect on his leadership of the party, he said: “Let the people have their say on the treaty, and let us count the votes after May 31st.
"The ESM [European Stability Mechanism] is not a done deal. It’s not law. It has to be made law both in terms of European and domestic legislation. The Dáil has to deal with that. It has yet to deal with that."
The opening ardfheis address will be by Kerry North and Limerick West TD Martin Ferris. Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will also address delegates tonight. More than 1,500 delegates will attend the conference, which is being held for the first time in Munster.
Party finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said this week the ardchomhairle was recommending rejection of a number of motions on the agenda, including one calling for a tax on corporate profits and a motion on abortion supporting women’s right to choose.
Asked whether Sinn Féin would be publishing its accounts in time for the ardfheis, Mr Doherty said it was party policy to publish financial information on its website.
However, the 2011 accounts were not ready and would not be available until June, a spokesman later said.
With Sinn Féin surging in the polls, the party is set to intensify pressure on the trade unions to break links of support for Labour.
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A motion from the Drimnagh branch calls on Siptu and other unions to review their links with the party, and to ensure that funding is made available to candidates who best represent their members.
A motion from the Newcastle West branch in Co Limerick “regrets the absence of the fada in many official publications” and urges Sinn Féin to set an example in its correct use.
Among the guests addressing the gathering will be Unite union head Jimmy Kelly, a former worker with Vita Cortex, and representatives of the African National Congress and from Palestine and the Basque Country.
Mr Doherty said Sinn Féin was experiencing a huge growth in membership and for many of those attending, this would be their first ardfheis.
