Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness has claimed the peace process will be strengthened by his involvement in the presidential election.
After being formally endorsed by the party’s leadership, he said the Northern Ireland Assembly would not be destabilised by his surprise move.
Outlining his vision for the presidency, Mr McGuinness vowed to only draw down the average wage if elected to office and donate the remainder to the Irish people.
“I have every confidence that the (North's) institutions will not be destabilised, that the work will continue, that the peace process will remain secure,” Mr McGuinness said.
“In fact I think it will be strengthened by the fact that I am now participating in this very important election.”
Sinn Féin stunned political circles on Friday by announcing that the former IRA leader, who has become a champion of the peace process, was to be its candidate.
At a press conference after his formal endorsement by the party, Mr McGuinness was asked to condemn the IRA murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in Limerick in 1996.
The North's Deputy First Minister described the killing as a terrible tragedy and said the gardai would have his 100% support if elected to office, but did not overtly condemn the killing.
He later clarified his position to say he “unreservedly condemned” it.
Mr McGuinness said he has a strong track record in peacemaking.
He is to pass on the Deputy First Minister role to John O’Dowd, party colleague and education minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
He said Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson reacted “philosophically” when he told him of his plans.
And he said that since he was announced as a candidate, he has received expressions of support from people who lost loved ones at the hands of IRA members.
Mr McGuinness also said three unionist politicians wished him well when he arrived back from a trade mission in the United States to Belfast yesterday.
“People know of my past and they also know of my deep commitment to peace and peace building,” he said.
“I want to continue to reach out to those directly affected by the actions of republicans in the course of the conflict.”
Mr McGuinness said if elected he will only draw the average wage, approximately €35,000, and donate the rest to the state.
President Mary McAleese has capped her salary this year at €250,00
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