SINN Féin president Gerry Adams has said he will not lead his party into a possible snap general election.
The Louth TD, who announced last weekend he would stand down as leader next year, said if a poll is called deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald would take the helm for the election.
The Republic is facing the prospect of going to the polls next month amid a crisis involving Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald. Howevcr Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said last night he will not call for his deputy's resignation simply to avoid an election.
Speaking on Highland Radio yesterday, Mr Adams said: "The party would be led by the leas uachtarán of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald. I of course would play my part, but as someone who isn't a candidate then that limits my input".
The political row centres on Ms Fitzgerald's knowledge of a legal strategy by lawyers for the Garda Commissioner that was designed to discredit whistleblower Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe at an inquiry into his allegations of bad policing.
Fianna Fáil have decided to follow Sinn Féin and table a motion of no confidence in Ms Fitzgerald - signalling the end of the minority Fine Gael government's confidence and supply agreement with Fianna Fáil.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said his party's motion could be "pulled back" if the minister resigned.
However, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted he will not seek her resignation.
He told RTÉ last night: "What that would mean is me throwing a good woman under a bus for political expediency, to save myself and my own Government and that would be the wrong thing to do".
Mr Varadkar said an election could still be avoided.
"I think we still have an opportunity over the next couple of days and the weekend to avoid a general election," he said.
"I don't want there to be a general election. I don't think Micheál Martin wants one either."
If an election were to be called, Mr Varadkar said it would be announced on Tuesday, when Sinn Féin's no confidence motion is due to be heard.
According to reports, a possible election date is Tuesday December 19. However there are fears the election would distract from key Brexit negotiations which could determine the future of the Irish border.
Mr Varadkar and Mr Martin met for half an hour yesterday afternoon.
A Fianna Fáil spokesman said the discussions between the Taoiseach and Mr Martin would continue.
"They had an open and frank discussion. Both agreed that an election is not needed now and they agreed to further engagement over the weekend," he said.
An emergency meeting of the Fine Gael national executive has been called for today.
The Green Party urged Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin to postpone the no confidence motions until the new year to allow time for the Brexit negotiations.
The Independent Alliance, which supports the government, also called on the two largest parties to avoid an election.
Transport minister Shane Ross said: "Going to the country in the weeks before Christmas is not what the public either needs or wants".
"Given present indications it seems possible, even likely, it could take months for a government to be formed," he said.
