Gerry Adams signals intent to lead Sinn Féin into next election

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has insisted he will lead the party into the next general election.

Speaking as he unveiled his new frontbench team, Mr Adams said he made a mistake on Newstalk radio when he suggested he may not be leader when the next election comes.

Asked about it on Wednesday Mr Adams said he “made a mistake” and said he would lead the party.

The Louth TD has been leader of Sinn Féin for 33 years and was recently re-elected at the party ardfheis.

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

Ms McDonald will shadow Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and become all-Ireland spokeswoman on mental health.

Pearse Doherty will remain as finance spokesman, Louise O’Reilly will replace Caoimhghín Ó’Caoláin in health and Jonathan O’Brien will replace Pádraig MacLochlainn in justice.

Mr Adams insisted nobody had been demoted and he had chosen the best team to shadow the Government,

Asked how long he expected the current regime to last Mr Adams said: ““I don’t know. Sometimes a government not expected to last can last much longer than expected.”

Sinn Féin Dáil Team

Gerry Adams: Party Leader, shadowing An Taoiseach

Mary Lou McDonald: Deputy party leader, shadowing An Tánaiste and all-Ireland spokeswoman on mental health and suicide prevention

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: chief whip and defence

Pearse Doherty: finance

Louise O’Reilly: health

Carol Nolan: education and skills

Eoin Ó Broin: housing, planning and local government

David Cullinane: public expenditure and reform and all-Ireland spokesman on workers’ rights

Martin Kenny: agriculture, food and the marine

Peadar Tóibín: regional development, rural affairs, arts and the Gaeltacht

Jonathan O’Brien: justice and equality and drug and alcohol abuse

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: children and youth affairs

Seán Crowe: foreign affairs and trade, the European Union and diaspora

John Brady: social protection

Brian Stanley: communications, climate change and natural resources

Maurice Quinlivan: Jobs, enterprise and innovation

Imelda Munster: transport, tourism, sport and urban renewal

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: disability rights and older people

Denise Mitchell: deputy whip and junior spokeswoman on social protection

Dessie Ellis: junior spokesman on housing, planning and local government

Kathleen Funchion: junior spokeswoman on Children and Youth Affairs (with special responsibility for childcare)

Martin Ferris: junior spokesman on agriculture, food and the marine (with special responsibility for fisheries and the marine)

Pat Buckley: junior spokesman on mental health and suicide prevention.