SINN FÉIN has taken legal advice on the constitutional status of the Government’s agreement with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

Party vice president Mary Lou McDonald said it had taken “initial legal advice on this matter” last Thursday.

She said the joint programme bailout “certainly offends the spirit” of Article 29 of Bunreacht na hÉireann which prevents the State from entering an international agreement involving a charge on public funds unless it is first approved by the Dáil. But she added: “We actually need to see the document, we need to see the Memorandum of Understanding . . . before you could take any kind of definitive legal view on it.”

Ms McDonald was speaking at a news conference to mark the arrival at the Dáil of Pearse Doherty, who won last week’s Donegal South West byelection.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the party hoped to run candidates in all 43 constituencies in the general election. Mr Doherty said he wanted to reiterate to the electorate of Donegal South West that “the manifesto that I put to the people . . . will be honoured in the coming days, weeks and months ahead. I am very proud to be joining the team of Sinn Féin TDs. It is a strengthened team . . . and it is a team that is providing the only real alternative to this Government.”

Party president Gerry Adams, who is to stand for the Dáil in Louth, was asked about comments by Minister for Justice and Louth TD Dermot Ahern that the Sinn Féin leader was “parachuting” into the constituency and his candidacy was an “abomination”.

Mr Ahern, who is stepping down at the general election, said Mr Adams would be opposed on an “anybody but Adams” basis.

Mr Adams replied: “I have really nothing to say in response to what Dermot Ahern has said.”

Earlier he said: “I wish Dermot Ahern well.”