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Adams insists he will lead Sinn Féin into next Dáil election

Gerry Adams said he made a mistake by suggesting he may not be leader for the next Dáil election. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire
Gerry Adams said he made a mistake by suggesting he may not be leader for the next Dáil election. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire Gerry Adams said he made a mistake by suggesting he may not be leader for the next Dáil election. Picture by Niall Carson/PA Wire

GERRY Adams has insisted he will lead Sinn Féin into the Republic's next general election.

Speaking as he unveiled his new Leinster House frontbench team, the Louth TD said he made a mistake on Newstalk radio when he suggested he may not be leader when the next Dáil election comes around.

Asked about the remarks yesterday, Mr Adams said he "made a mistake" and insisted he would lead the party – though he had no idea how long the current minority coalition would last.

"I don’t know – sometimes a government not expected to last can last much longer than expected," he said.

The 67-year-old has been leader of Sinn Féin for 33 years and was recently re-elected unopposed at the party's ard fheis.

Mr Adams unveiled his shadow cabinet with Mary Lou McDonald moved from public expenditure and reform.

The Sinn Féin deputy leader will shadow Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and become all-Ireland spokeswoman on mental health.

Pearse Doherty will remain as the party's finance spokesman, Louise O’Reilly will replace Caoimhghín Ó’Caoláin in health and Jonathan O’Brien will replace Pádraig MacLochlainn, who lost his seat, in justice.

Mr Adams insisted nobody had been demoted and he had chosen the best team to shadow the government.