Martin McGuinness after attending inauguration of President Michael D Higgins

THIS was a milestone election and I was very honoured to stand for the Presidency of my country and to be a voice for people from Derry to Cork and Wexford to Donegal. I want to thank you for your support and hard work throughout the campaign. We came a strong third in the race, significantly out-polling the lead party in government and had a decisive impact on the campaign.

With more than 243,000 first-preference votes it marks the highest support for our brand of republican politics in modern times. More than 150,000 people also gave me their second-preference votes, which was in itself an endorsement of real republican politics.

My message of positive leadership, patriotism and commitment clearly resonated with tens of thousands of ordinary Irish people. I believe that Irish people do want a new type of politics and a New Republic based upon equality and respect.

President Higgins

The issues which I raised during the campaign need to be tackled – these include the impact of austerity on ordinary people, the loss of sovereignty, rising unemployment and emigration, voting rights for Irish citizens in the North and the Diaspora, the injustice of Irish taxpayers' money being used for bank bail-outs, and confronting cronyism and corruption. And, most importantly, the need for Irish reunification.

We are now in the mainstream of political life, North and South. We’re going to continue to work to ensure that the politics that we espouse continue to bring change to people within society. There is a better way forward. There is an alternative and we will work to make change happen.

I’m now back work in the power-sharing institutions in the North as the joint First Minister and as the longest-serving minister on the North-South Ministerial Council.  I will continue to work in the interests of all of the people of Ireland and to stand with those who are struggling to survive at this time.

We need to continue to campaign and work together to secure change. I urge you to stay involved and to keep fighting for Ireland and our children's future.

I was delighted to attend the inauguration of Michael D Higgins as Uachtaráin na hÉireann today and I wish him well in the role.  I think he’ll make a great President and he’ll be my President also.

Beir bua

Martin McGuinness