Adams to contest Irish Parliament seat

Sinn Fein president and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams is to contest a parliamentary seat in the Republic of Ireland, it has been confirmed.

Sinn Fein's Arthur Morgan currently represents the Louth constituency in the Dail Eireann parliament, but following his recent decision to stand down at the next election, Mr Adams is poised to throw his hat in the ring.

A decision to stand as the Sinn Fein president for election in the Republic while he already holds seats for West Belfast in both the House of Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly would be a major political move by the party.

There is no modern precedent for a politician to seek election to both Westminster and the Dail, but as an all-Ireland party Sinn Fein already has elected politicians across the island.

Sinn Fein has five MPs elected in Northern Ireland, including Mr Adams. It has four members elected to the Dail.

There has been further speculation that Mr Adams may relinquish his seat at the Stormont Assembly as part of a reshuffle.

Such a development would nevertheless see him "double job" with seats in both Westminster and the Dail if he were to successfully contest the Louth constituency.

The announcement could signal the beginning of a new high-risk strategy by the party to boost its standing south of the Irish border.