Gerry Adams to be Sinn Féin’s nomination in vote for taoiseach

Party president admits it ‘hit a few crossbars’ during election campaign

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams: said his party would be the largest left-wing party in the Dáil . File photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams: said his party would be the largest left-wing party in the Dáil . File photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has confirmed he will be his party's nomination for the position of taoiseach when the Dáil reconvenes on Thursday.

Mr Adams said he was selected after the party's Oireachtas Group met in Leinster House on Tuesday morning. The matter was to be discussed by the Ard Chomhairle on Monday night but was deferred until Tuesday.

The Sinn Féin leader said his party would be the largest left-wing party in the Dáil and added it would not enter into any arrangements with either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.

He accepted that the party had “hit a few crossbars” in the election but maintained it had done well at the polls.

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He denied there were any long-term questions about his leadership following an election in which the party made gains but not as much as anticipated.

Harry McGee

Harry McGee

Harry McGee is a Political Correspondent with The Irish Times