Sinn Féin is willing to enter a vote-transfer arrangement with parties and Independents on the left, according to a media report today.

The party will reportedly announce this week that it has signed up to principles drafted by the anti-water charges Right2Change campaign, and will ask its supporters to transfer to others behind the initiative.

Sinn Féin supporters will be asked to continue their vote preferences for other left-wing parties and Independents who sign up to the Right2Change policy principles, according to the report in The Irish Times.

However it is understood some will not return the favour to Sinn Féin and will not ask their supporters to transfer to Gerry Adams' party.

Independents and left-leaning parties have until Friday to decide whether they will join Sinn Féin in a voting pact.

Right2Change spokesman David Gibney said who was interested in being part of the pact had been asked to make a firm decision by this Friday.