Disagreement over Fianna F谩il's Northern Ireland candidate

Image source, David Young/PA

Image caption, Sorcha McAnespy will be stand in next year's local council poll

Fianna F谩il headquarters appears to be at loggerheads with some senior members of the party.

At a Brexit meeting in Omagh, County Tyrone, on Thursday night, it was announced that councillor Sorcha McAnespy will be standing as a Fianna F谩il candidate in Northern Ireland.

Cllr McAnespy was said to be contesting next May's local council election.

But Fianna F谩il has said the party has made "no decision" on contesting the election and is in talks with the SDLP.

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Fianna F谩il is currently the main opposition party in the Republic of Ireland and is expected to unveil a number of other candidates in the time ahead.

Ms McAnespy, a member of Fianna F谩il's national executive, sits on the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

She was previously a Sinn F茅in councillor and secured a place on the Fianna F谩il' national executive last year.

The move comes amid ongoing speculation that Fianna F谩il might ultimately merge with the SDLP to run in future Northern Ireland elections.

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Party leader Miche谩l Martin has previously pledged to contest elections in Northern Ireland.

Fianna F谩il TD 脡amon O'Cu铆v and senator Mark Daly were in attendance at the event in Omagh.

In a press release, the men said they will be her joint campaign managers.

"There is an appetite for change in Northern Ireland and there is an appetite now more than ever for Fianna F谩il to contest elections in Northern Ireland," said Ms McAnespy.

However, in a statement released following the event, Fianna F谩il said: "The party has made no decision with regard to contesting the 2019 NI local elections. The party is continuing its discussions with the SDLP".

Image caption, Claire Hanna told The View that she would not join Fianna F谩il

On the 91热爆's The View programme on Thursday night, SDLP MLA Claire Hanna said she believed the announcement was "a rogue move".

She also said she did not believe Fianna F谩il solves any problems currently facing Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the SDLP.

"Some of the personnel who were at that event wouldn't be in concert with their leadership, but it would be remiss of me to say that it is not a politics that appeals to me and it's not a party I would personally join," she said.

Party roots

Established in 1926, Fianna F谩il has long claimed to be Ireland's true republican party.

It has often faced questions on why it would not contest elections on a 32-county basis.

Its eventual decision marks a significant move in the political landscape on the island and comes when the debate over Irish unity has gained renewed traction due to Brexit.