Sinn Féin can recover from the setback it received in the general election, the party president insisted today.
Gerry Adams told a strategy meeting of Belfast members that just as the party came back from the shock loss of his Westminster seat in 1992 to the SDLP's Joe Hendron, it could do the same in the Republic.
And he revealed the party was drawing up plans for an electoral comeback in the Republic with two conferences planned before the end of the year.
"There were high expectations internally and externally about that election which we didn't meet," the West Belfast MP said.
"Consequently, some republicans were understandably deflated.
"Well, that was then and this is now.
Sinn Féin had hoped significantly to increase its tally of seats in the Dáil in the May election. It ended up losing a seat - Sean Crowe's in Dublin South West - and was reduced to four TDs. Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald also failed to capture a seat in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's Dublin Central constituency despite running a high-profile campaign.
Mr Adams, however, said Sinn Féin came close to capturing seats in a number of constituencies and that its share of the vote increased. In Donegal North East Padraig Mac Lochlainn and in Donegal South West Pearse Doherty also came close. However the party succeeded in getting Pearse Doherty elected as its first Senator after it struck a vote pact with the Labour Party.
"Since the election the party has been meeting locally and nationally, reviewing what happened, and we are putting a plan in place to get us back on track," Mr Adams confirmed.
"This will see two major party conferences take place before the end of the year.
"But these are only part of the way forward.
"There is enormous goodwill for Sinn Féin in every part of this island. We have to build on that; build on our republican roots and policies; shape them to take account of the political realities of Ireland today, and move forward confidently".
Mr Adams also stressed the need for the party to continue to engage with unionists in Northern Ireland and build support for Irish unity in the UK.
PA