Sinn Féin is actively seeking immigrant candidates to represent the party in the upcoming local elections, according to a party representative.
Ruadhán Mac Aodháin, Sinn Féin representative in north inner city Dublin, said that while no immigrant candidates have yet been named for the 2009 election campaign, the party is actively working to recruit from Ireland’s immigrant communities.
“Our selection conventions are ongoing and we will continue to actively seek such candidates,” said a party spokesperson. “Sinn Féin takes an extremely proactive approach to encouraging new Irish communities into the party’s political activities. We are highly active within the immigrant community and our party representatives work on a daily basis on issues pertaining to this community.”
Mac Aodháin said that Sinn Féin’s regional and local party structures have equality officers who are tasked with encouraging women and “the new Irish communities” to get active in Sinn Féin. “I have personally organised campaigns such as a voter registration through Polish in my own area,” he added.
So far, Sinn Féin has selected around 100 candidates for this summer’s local elections. Further selection conventions are planned throughout January and February.
