GERRY Adams's leadership of Sinn Féin has been endorsed by high-ranking party figures on both sides of the border.
Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín and West Belfast MLA Alex Maskey have both voiced support for Mr Adams in the wake of calls from a mid-ranking party activist for him to step aside.
Co Cavan-based republican veteran Thomas Anthony McNulty made the unprecedented call for the 67-year-old Sinn Féin leader to resign in a letter to The Irish News.
Mr McNulty, who originally hails from Co Tyrone, is chairman of the Virginia Mullagh Sinn Féin cumann.
He believes Mr Adams is hindering the party's electoral prospects in the south and that it is time for a new, younger leader.
In his criticism of the Sinn Féin leader, Mr McNulty advocated an "ambassadorial role" for the party president, such as that bestowed upon the late Joe Cahill.
Both Mr Adams and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have dismissed the former IRA prisoner's remarks.
Mr Adams said on Monday that his leadership had been endorsed at Sinn Féin's ard fheis in April, while Mr McGuinness said the Louth TD enjoyed "incredible support" from within the party's ranks.
Mr Tóibín, who in 2013 was suspended from the Sinn Féin's parliamentary party for six months after voting against a relaxation of the Republic's abortion laws, told The Irish News yesterday that "few political leaders could measure up to Gerry Adams".
The Meath West TD said that in the 20 years he had been a member of Sinn Féin, the former West Belfast MP had overseen huge growth in party membership and in the number of elected representatives.
He said the party's influence had also increased significantly on both sides of the border.
"In any political party people are going to have different views and it will be a sad day if all the membership's views are in sync – you need diversity of thought in a political party," he said.
"However, I would say Tommy McNulty is unrepresentative of the vest majority of the party."
North of the border, West Belfast MLA Alex Maskey gave Mr Adams his full backing.
He said he was reluctant to contribute to a discussion about the Sinn Féin leadership.
However, he added: "I have no hesitation in supporting Gerry Adams."
