30/11/2010

Ahern 'Leaves' Louth As Adams Arrives

As the Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams looks ahead to next year's elections in the Irish Republic - when he will go to the polls in Co Louth as a Dáil candidate - last night he launched a major initiative by the party along the border.

The news came as the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, revealed he will not be seeking re-election to the Dáil, citing a "painful" medical condition as reason for his decision not to contest the election - also in Co Louth.

Last night, west Belfast's Gerry Adams said that the new Bridging the Border-Reconnecting Communities scheme is aimed at resolving problems associated with the border.

He said it will be led by Sinn Fein Mayors and Chairpersons along the border corridor with Mr Adams accompanied at the event by Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

Mr. Adams (pictured) said: "This Sinn Fein-led initiative is aimed at collating views from a wide spectrum of public and community opinion on the many disadvantages of the border.

"The public engagements will be led by our Mayors/Chairs within each council area and will contribute to the compilation and public launch of a report looking to addressing these problems.

"There is no better time than at present with the economic realities as they are that we tackle the issues of repetition and duplication of services within this island.

"Along the border corridor many communities are separated and isolated from their natural hinterlands and this leads to economic and social hardships along that corridor," he said.

"Sinn Fein intends to help reconnect these communities to lessen the impact of these hardships and our Mayors and Chars will begin the task of liaising with their local stakeholders in order to identify problems that can be addressed," the SF President continued.

"It is in everyone's interest that we get the maximum input from all stakeholders so I would appeal with them to engage and work with us in resolving some of these problems."

See: Dermot Ahern Steps Down From Dáil

(BMcC/KMcA)

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