The Sinn Féin ardfheis, which was due to take place this weekend, has been rescheduled due to the threat of foot-and mouth-contagion south of the border.
Instead, the party will hold a half-day conference for delegates and members of the party from Dublin which will be addressed by Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams.
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Speaking to media this afternoon, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA, the Sinn Féin chairperson, said that despite the importance of the ardfheis as a springboard for the party's British parliamentary election campaign, the threat of foot-and-mouth was toogreat to allow it to go ahead.
"The ardfheis is the main political highlight of the republican calendar," said Mr McLaughlin.
"It deals with the political direction of the party, the election of the Ard Comhairle [and] would also have been the springboard for the 32-County election drive by Sinn Féin...ahead of parliamentary polls in the 26 Counties, Westminster and local elections in the Six Counties.
"The most responsible thing we can do with any potential foot and mouth outbreaks is to curtail the movement of people around Ireland.
"Not only have we rescheduled our ardfheis, but many party meetings and mobilistations have been cancelled."
A new date for the ardfheis will be announced once the threat of foot-and-mouth disease recedes.
Mr McLaughlin also said Sinn Féin had yet to respond to calls by the British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair last night for round-table talks this week in an effort to overcome the obstacles holding up the peace process.