SINN FÉIN LEADER Gerry Adams was criticised earlier this week for his suggestion that Ireland reject the EU/IMF deal and burn international bondholders – however, he said today that his party stood firm on its economic policy.

Speaking to RTÉ from the final Bloody Sunday commemorative march today, Adams reiterated his earlier statements and added that he did not think that the party would be opposition-bound at the end of the election campaign.

Noting that his approval rating in opinion polls over the last year had dropped dramatically, Adams said that until votes had been cast nothing was certain – however he appealed to voters to “really look at the choices”.

Adams said that Sinn Féin “would argue that the funds [exist] to run the country for the remainder of this year,” and added, “We would burn the bank bondholders and introduce a bank resolution bill to protect depositors.” He said that at the end of 2011, Sinn Féin would propose that the country would return to the bond market “having separated the public debt from the bank debt”.

Adams said that Sinn Féin never supported the bank guarantee and added that the government, at that time, had misled the Dáil.

When asked if he wanted to clarify his comments earlier this week, suggesting that Sinn Féin would unilaterally reject the IMF/ECB deal, he said: “No. I have no reason to clarify that – that’s our position.”

He said his party would first close Anglo Irish and Irish Nationwide, and then amalgamate Anglo Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland, before going back to the bond markets to borrow money.

Adams could not be drawn on a specific figure regarding how much it would take to recapitalise the remaining banks after burning the bondholders, however he said that once Ireland “separated bank debt from public debt” the international markets would be more likely to lend on favourable terms.

Neither would Adams be drawn on a specific rate of interest that would have to be offered before Ireland would reenter the bond markets, but he said: ”If I know anything about anything it’s negotiations.”