Gerry Adams: 'We have a plan' for when I step down from Sinn Féin presidency

Gerry Adams has said he has decided when he will step down as party leader and his departure will be part of a 10-year plan for Sinn Féin, writes Elaine Loughlin of the Irish Examiner.

The Sinn Féin president has said the party is "in transition" and it isn't a question of if but when he will allow someone else take over as leader.

Mr Adams said the party would be consulting with grassroots to put together a plan for the next 10 years.

"Part of that will see a change of leadership, but we will come to this, it's a matter for the party, it's a matter of course in the first instance for myself whether or not I would allow my name to go forward," he said.

Speaking as he arrived at the Sinn Féin think-in in Co Meath, Mr Adams said: "We are a party in transition, I have made it very very clear so it isn't question of if I will step down, its a question of when I step down and we have a plan."

But he refused to give a time-frame on his departure joking with the media that: "The problem is if we tell you, you would tell everyone else".