Matt Carthy with Gerry Adams
SPECULATION that Pearse Doherty would quit as a TD to run for Europe has proven wide of the mark.
Delegates this evening selected Matt Carthy as the Sinn Féin candidate in the EU elections in the northern constituency in the 26 Counties.
He is a councillor from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
Carthy was selected at a selection convention in the Radisson Hotel in Sligo today attended by more than 700 delegates.
Speaking after winning the nomination he said: “I am delighted to have received the nomination this evening as I was up against strong competition from Senator Kathryn Reilly and Councillors Rose Conway Walsh and Martin Kenny.
“I am honoured to be representing Sinn Féin in what will be a new constituency when the commission reports and I want to take this opportunity to call for the report to be expedited.
“I am very, very confident that Sinn Féin can win a seat in this constituency.
“In the EU election campaign I will very clearly be a voice for fairness in Ireland and in Europe.
“I will be a strong voice against austerity whether emanating from Leinster House, Brussels or Strasbourg.
“I will stand up first and foremost in the interests of Ireland and Irish citizens. Unlike other parties, Sinn Féin will not kow-tow to each and every EU diktat.
“It’s time for strong Irish leadership in Europe.
“Sinn Féin will deliver that leadership. And I fully intend to win a European seat in this constituency to play my part in that delivery.”