Sinn Féin is to hold ten public meetings in constituencies across Northern Ireland over the coming weeks.

The meetings announced at a press event in Belfast by South Belfast MLA and NI Policing Board member, Alex Maskey will see Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and other senior party leaders present Sinn Féin's "vision for the future" and allow the general public to engage with the party.

Mr Maskey (pictured addressing a Policing Board meeting) said: "Since the political institutions where re-established after the successful negotiation at St. Andrews Sinn Féin have annually hosted large public meetings for the general public.

"We are the only party who do this as a matter of course. It is a vital part of our Ministers and Assembly members being accountable to the communities we are elected to serve. These meetings are an opportunity for the public to put their issues directly onto the Executive table.

"As we face into this Westminster election campaign this run of public meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to engage with the Sinn Féin leadership and more importantly an opportunity for us to engage with the public.

"Sinn Féin never take the electorate for granted and we are part of the community we represent. That is why we see these engagements as so important," he insisted.

"These meetings will be the first since the conclusion of the negotiations at Hillsborough and come after the transfer of powers on policing and justice.

"There is no substitute for local politicians engaging with local people and these meetings will form a central part of our ability to get our message directly across to the electorate in the coming weeks."

(BMcC/GK)