Speech by Gerry Adams at the Launch of SF's 2005 Local Government Election Manifesto, (25 April 2005)

Speech by Gerry Adams, then President of Sinn Féin (SF), at the Launch of SF's 2005 Local Government Election Manifesto, (25 April 2005)

"Sinn Féin is standing its largest ever team for the Local Government elections.

We are standing 182 candidates across 24 councils. Almost one third of our candidates are women and 78 are standing for the first time.

Sinn Féin has 234 Councillors a-cross Ireland - 108 in the North and 126 in the South. As the only all-Ireland party our aim, in the time ahead is to have representation on every local council in Ireland.

We will use our mandate to advance the peace process, build for Irish unity and bring forward real social and economic change. We will use our mandate to build a radical alternative.

Joining me this morning are former Mayor of Belfast Alex Maskey, Councillor Francie Molloy who currently holds the position of President of NILGA, Valerie Leonard who standing for the first time in Coleraine, James McKeown in Larne and Breige Meehan in Newtownabbey.

Without singling out individual councillors or council groups, those Sinn Féin members who have taken on leadership roles, mayors and chairs, and represented by those here today, have sought to use these positions, not for personal gain or advancement, but to provide effective and courageous political leadership.

Whether that be reaching out to unionist communities, or challenging racism in our society, or simply opening up the council chambers to ordinary citizens Sinn Féin has delivered real and meaningful change.

This document is about building upon all of that work and setting out in very clear terms our agenda for the next four years."