Sinn Féin to select candidate to contest European election in the North

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has announced that her party will hold a convention in Belfast next week to select a candidate to contest a European election in the North.

Speaking at the launch of Sinn Féin’s local election campaign in Dublin today Teachta McDonald said;

“From the outset of the Brexit process Sinn Féin has been clear and consistent that Irish citizens in the north, who are also EU citizens, should have elected representation in the EU Parliament regardless of whether Britain exits the EU or not, as is their right.

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil rejected giving the people of the north a voice in Europe.

“The chaos has continued in London and, less than a week away from the next Brexit deadline, it is clear the British government and parliament continues to have no plan, no strategy and no clue.

“Yesterday at the request of the Six-County Cúige the Ard Chomhairle authorised preparations to begin immediately to contest EU elections in the north.

“Nominations will open on Monday and close on Friday and a Selection Convention will be held in Belfast next Saturday.

“Sinn Féin will be ready, we will be prepared to energetically contest EU elections in the north.

“We will give the people of the north the opportunity to vote for a Sinn Féin candidate who will stand up for their interests, for the interests of Ireland and against the efforts by the Tory Brexiteers and the DUP to ride roughshod over the Good Friday Agreement, over the rights of Irish citizens and over the democratic rights of the people.”

ENDS