SINN Féin will today debate scrapping its long-standing opposition to the Republic's non-jury special criminal court.
The party leadership will put forward the motion at the ard fheis, a potential policy shift that further paves the way for it to enter government after the next election.
It would mean republicans committing to the option of non-jury courts in "exceptional" circumstances.
Sinn Féin has long opposed non-jury courts, where trials involving paramilitary and serious organised crime cases are heard.
The court was previously used to prosecute and jail members of the Provisional IRA.
In 2015, it found prominent Co Louth republican Thomas 'Slab' Murphy guilty of tax evasion.
The legislation for the special criminal court needs to be renewed annually and while Sinn Féin TDs historically voted against renewal, they abstained last year for the first time.
The ard chomhairle motion says the special criminal court "as it is currently constituted has no place in a modern criminal justice system". However, it says all courts should be integrated into one system, enabling jury trials, anonymous jury trial, the use of video link for juries or granting special protection for juries where needed.
