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| Michelle O'Neill rules herself out as new Sinn Féin leader | Michelle O'Neill rules herself out as new Sinn Féin leader |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Sinn Féin's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill has ruled herself out from replacing Gerry Adams as party leader. | |
| Mrs O'Neill told BBC's Sunday Politics programme that she had "enough to do" in her current role. | Mrs O'Neill told BBC's Sunday Politics programme that she had "enough to do" in her current role. |
| Mr Adams announced on Saturday at the Sinn Féin ard fhéis (party conference) that he would stand down as leader of the party next year. | Mr Adams announced on Saturday at the Sinn Féin ard fhéis (party conference) that he would stand down as leader of the party next year. |
| "Leadership means knowing when it's time for change and that time is now," the 69-year-old said. | "Leadership means knowing when it's time for change and that time is now," the 69-year-old said. |
| Mr Adams has been party president since 1983 but told the conference it would be his last as leader. | Mr Adams has been party president since 1983 but told the conference it would be his last as leader. |
| It is expected that a special party conference will be held next year to elect a new president. | It is expected that a special party conference will be held next year to elect a new president. |
| Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald is the front-runner to replace Mr Adams. | Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald is the front-runner to replace Mr Adams. |
| Mrs O'Neill was appointed Sinn Féin's Stormont leader in January after former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness retired. | Mrs O'Neill was appointed Sinn Féin's Stormont leader in January after former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness retired. |
| She said she would not be entering the Sinn Féin leadership race and would be concentrating on dealing "with the problems in the north". | She said she would not be entering the Sinn Féin leadership race and would be concentrating on dealing "with the problems in the north". |
| But, she added that it was an "emotional but also an exciting time for republican politics". | But, she added that it was an "emotional but also an exciting time for republican politics". |
| "We will see who puts their name forward and then I will obviously make my decision on who I'd support that time." | "We will see who puts their name forward and then I will obviously make my decision on who I'd support that time." |
| She added that the election of a new president will be a "very health process". | She added that the election of a new president will be a "very health process". |
| 'Hamster wheel' talks | 'Hamster wheel' talks |
| Meanwhile, Mrs O'Neill has called on both government to take a bigger role in breaking the ongoing political deadlock in Northern Ireland. | Meanwhile, Mrs O'Neill has called on both government to take a bigger role in breaking the ongoing political deadlock in Northern Ireland. |
| The power-sharing government at Stormont collapsed in January and several rounds of talks to restore the institutions between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have failed. | The power-sharing government at Stormont collapsed in January and several rounds of talks to restore the institutions between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have failed. |
| Mrs O'Neill said that she was sure the parties would return to a "talks process of some description but it has to be meaningful - we can't keep going around the hamster wheel". | Mrs O'Neill said that she was sure the parties would return to a "talks process of some description but it has to be meaningful - we can't keep going around the hamster wheel". |
| She added that she will tell Prime Minister Theresa May when they meet on Tuesday that the Conservative Party have not sufficiently encouraged the DUP to strike a deal because of their Westminster pact. | She added that she will tell Prime Minister Theresa May when they meet on Tuesday that the Conservative Party have not sufficiently encouraged the DUP to strike a deal because of their Westminster pact. |
| On Saturday, she called on the Irish government to appoint a minister with responsibility for advancing Irish unity. | On Saturday, she called on the Irish government to appoint a minister with responsibility for advancing Irish unity. |
| At Sinn Féin's party conference, she said that a parliamentary committee in the Republic of Ireland should also be formed to look at a united Ireland. | At Sinn Féin's party conference, she said that a parliamentary committee in the Republic of Ireland should also be formed to look at a united Ireland. |