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19/09/2011
O'Dowd Steps Up As Temporary Deputy First Minister
Following confirmation that Martin McGuinness will be Sinn Fein's candidate in next month's Irish presidential election, Stormont Education Minister John O'Dowd is to be nominated as temporary deputy first minister.
Mr McGuinness will step down as deputy first minister during the campaign to succeed Mary McAleese as Irish president.
In line with current regulations, Mr O'Dowd's nomination does not require cross-party support, as the second largest party in the Assembly it is a matter solely for Sinn Fein.
Mr McGuinness said he expected his past as a commander in the IRA to be brought up during the election campaign and he reiterated that his outlook was of the "here and now" and he remains focused on the future.
He added: "A number of people in the north who lost loved ones as a result of the actions of the IRA have actually come to me and pledged their support in this campaign.
"That gives me tremendous encouragement because I think they see me as someone who has been at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement, the negotiations that brought about the St Andrews Agreement, the Hillsborough Agreement, and the building of very important relationships with our unionist brothers and sisters."
"I have promoted peace everywhere that I have gone but I know there will be a very strong temptation for people to drag us back to the past."
Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott said it was a matter for people in the Irish Republic who they elected, but he felt that it would help if Mr McGuinness disclosed some of his activities with the IRA.
He stated: "I think it would be extremely useful if he were to sit down and talk of his overall involvement."
DUP MP Ian Paisley also commented on the matter: "If our politicians who are problem politicians decide to export themselves to the south of Ireland then that's probably not a bad thing.
"It clears the way for new blood to enter real politics in Northern Ireland.
"It's been a lot of the baggage that people like Martin McGuinness have carried with them to the political scene that has caused difficulties."
Mr McGuinness has secured the necessary support of independent members of the Irish parliament for his nomination and said if elected, he would only take "an average wage" and that the rest of his salary would go back to the public purse.
(JG/CD)
Mr McGuinness will step down as deputy first minister during the campaign to succeed Mary McAleese as Irish president.
In line with current regulations, Mr O'Dowd's nomination does not require cross-party support, as the second largest party in the Assembly it is a matter solely for Sinn Fein.
Mr McGuinness said he expected his past as a commander in the IRA to be brought up during the election campaign and he reiterated that his outlook was of the "here and now" and he remains focused on the future.
He added: "A number of people in the north who lost loved ones as a result of the actions of the IRA have actually come to me and pledged their support in this campaign.
"That gives me tremendous encouragement because I think they see me as someone who has been at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement, the negotiations that brought about the St Andrews Agreement, the Hillsborough Agreement, and the building of very important relationships with our unionist brothers and sisters."
"I have promoted peace everywhere that I have gone but I know there will be a very strong temptation for people to drag us back to the past."
Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott said it was a matter for people in the Irish Republic who they elected, but he felt that it would help if Mr McGuinness disclosed some of his activities with the IRA.
He stated: "I think it would be extremely useful if he were to sit down and talk of his overall involvement."
DUP MP Ian Paisley also commented on the matter: "If our politicians who are problem politicians decide to export themselves to the south of Ireland then that's probably not a bad thing.
"It clears the way for new blood to enter real politics in Northern Ireland.
"It's been a lot of the baggage that people like Martin McGuinness have carried with them to the political scene that has caused difficulties."
Mr McGuinness has secured the necessary support of independent members of the Irish parliament for his nomination and said if elected, he would only take "an average wage" and that the rest of his salary would go back to the public purse.
(JG/CD)
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