By Juno McEnroe

Political Correspondent

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has denied that the improvement in the economy will make it more difficult for his party to win seats.

Launching his party’s bid for the general election after its date was announced by the Taoiseach this morning, Mr Adams also said that he did not know if this would be the last one that he would contest.

Speaking to the media outside Leinster House, Mr Adams said that his party would today sign off on its manifesto for the election. Sinn Féin is running 50 candidates across all 40 constituencies.

He refused to say how many seats the party might win. Mr Adams also said he did not know if this would be his last election or not.

He said that Fine Gael returned to government would try and privatise health but that his party would stand up for ordinary people.

Mr Adams also said that Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuiness, the North’s deputy first leader, would also be involved in the campaign here.

He reiterated Sinn Féin’s view that Mr Kenny had brought a close to the Dail today in a “pathetic” way, after a “pathetic” term.