Murphy to contest Irish election and quit Stormont if elected

Sinn Féin Minister Conor Murphy is set to contest the Irish Seanad (Irish parliament's upper chamber) election next month and will quit Stormont if elected.

Murphy described the move as a "natural progression of his politics" and said he looked forward to using his experience to shape the debate around Irish reunification in the Seanad.

He also denied the move was linked to a recent health scare when he suffered a mini stroke.

"I feel fully fit and it is not related to that," he told BBC News NI.

The move was confirmed in a statement from Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald.

She said Murphy's candidacy for the Seanad "underscores Sinn Féin's commitment to representing the entire island of Ireland".

She added his "wealth of experience" would help advance the "Irish unity debate in the Oireachtas" (Irish parliament).

Murphy is one of Sinn Féin's most experienced politicians at Stormont.

He was first elected as MLA for Newry and Armagh in 1998 and has served as minister in three Stormont departments: economy, finance and regional development.

He also served as MP for the constituency for 10 years.

BBC News NI's Political Editor, Enda McClaffery writes:

This feels like the beginning of the end of Conor Murphy's Stormont career.

Though he insists a move to the Irish Seanad is a natural progression, in reality it is step away from the cut and thrust of frontline politics.

It is far removed from the pressures of a Stormont ministerial office.

But it has come as no surprise.

After suffering a mini stroke in May, Murphy said he planned to make some "lifestyle adjustments".

This feels like a big adjustment with the promise of much less stress and strain.

But his absence from the Stormont benches will be felt as one of the party's most skilled political operators.

In May, Murphy stepped aside as economy minister for several weeks after he suffered a mini stroke.

At the time, he described how he lost the power down one side of his body while travelling in a car.

Nominations for the Seanad elections are due to close on Tuesday with voting planned for 30 January.

Murphy will be contesting one of the 43 seats elected from vocational panels.

The electorate includes county and city councillors along with incoming TDs and outgoing members of the previous Seanad.