Sinn Féin has said it is no longer a ‘party of protest’ – and wants to get into government.

The party leader Gerry Adams said today there was no point in having policies if they did not try to implement them.

And he claimed that for most people “there is no recovery”.

The party’s deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has said Sinn Féin wants to bring about change.

“We want to be in Government, be under no illusions; we are not playing games in this regard.

“We have set out our plans, we think there is over 100 right to change candidates at this stage, 106 right to change candidates in the field.”