The idea Sinn Féin wanted Gerry Adams as president is "absurd", argues Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
2007 has been a huge year for Sinn Féin and Irish republicans. We began with an historic decision in relation to policing in the Six Counties, secured the formation of a powersharing government with the DUP, fought the general election and saw the election of Pearse Doherty as the party's first member of the Seanad.
Of course there was disappointment in our ranks with the outcome of the general election. We were by no means alone in expecting an increased number of Sinn Féin TDs. But there are many positives for us to build upon. The actual number of votes Sinn Féin received increased by 22,371 and our vote was up in over a dozen constituencies.
In places like Donegal North East, Donegal South West and Dublin Mid West there was a substantial increase in our support, bringing us very close to taking seats. And in my own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan we increased our percentage from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent and by over 2,000 first preference votes to 13,162, the sixth highest vote across all 43 constituencies.
Over the last few months we went to communities the length and breadth of Ireland to talk and to listen. We don't underestimate the tasks we face. We are drawing lessons from the election results and are in a process of reviewing, regrouping, reorganising and rebuilding. This will culminate in a major party conference in Dublin later this year.
But our plans are well advanced and already we have our sights fixed on the local government and EU elections of 2009.
In relation to Ed Moloney's claim (The Irish Times, October 10th) to have uncovered "an ambitious and highly secret plan" to get Gerry Adams elected as president of Ireland in 2011, I am sure many Sinn Féin members and supporters were much amused.
The idea that our electoral strategy was based on a plan to get Adams into Áras an Uachtaráin is absurd. I am sure Adams would fulfil the role of Uachtarán na hÉireann admirably but Sinn Féin is about achieving real political, social and economic progress on this island. We are not about simply electing our members to occupy high office for the sake of it.
For the same reason, if the question of coalition with another party arises in the future, it will be judged solely on the basis of how much progressive change we can deliver and how we can enhance our political strength in order to increase the momentum towards a united Ireland of equals.
We welcome the discovery of all-Ireland politics by other parties, including Fianna Fáil. We hope all parties follow our lead and organise throughout the island.
We are very clear in our direction. We are for Irish re-unification. We are for a strong economy which can deliver the type of public services that are so badly needed. We are for prosperity with equality. And we have the type of innovative policies that are required to bring this about.
We need to clearly explain how our policies will improve people's lives and the lives of their communities. We need to prove that we can bring the same skill and determination to addressing social and economic challenges as we did in advancing the peace process.
There is a huge need for leadership and for a real debate about the direction in which this State is going. The Fianna Fáil/PD legacy of failure has continued over the past summer. The health crisis continues. Aer Lingus - which should never have been privatised - is acting against the country's infrastructural interests.
There are growing concerns at job losses in manufacturing and the construction industry. And there has been a complete failure to deal with serious drug and gun crime. This Government has returned to the Dáil totally ill-prepared for the work ahead.
We intend to hold this Government to account every day of the week and put forward real alternatives. We will be launching key campaigns around job creation, healthcare and community safety. We will seek to build alliances both inside and outside Leinster House. We will be working with our Ministers in the Executive in the North and we will continue our work for Irish unity.
Having led the process of change in the peace process we are determined to play an equally pivotal role in bringing about social and economic equality across this island and an all-Ireland republic worthy of the name.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin is a Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan and is the party's leader in the Dáil