Gerry Adams intends to stay on as Sinn Féin leader

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams says he intends to lead his party into the next general election.

The Louth TD was speaking following a poll which shows Sinn Féin still hovering below the support level it had before going into the general election.

Asked by TV3 whether he would lead Sinn Féin into the next election, Mr Adams replied yes.

There is much talk around Leinster House that the Fine Gael minority Government may not last as long as expected and that there may be a snap election called early next year.

A recent MRBI poll found that Dublin Central TD Mary Lou McDonald is favourite to succeed Mr Adams.

Meanwhile, Mr Adams also criticised the North’s July 12 celebrations, led by the Orange Order. Three homes in the Shankill area of Belfast were damaged by blazes during parades.

Speaking at Leinster House, Mr Adams said: “Imagine a bonfire here, bigger than the buildings, it’s just absolutely crazy.”

He described how Sinn Féin has taken cases over “incitement to hatred” issues, including the burning of posters of officials or images of them.

One incident included an effigy of Mr Adams hanging with a noose from a fire.

Mr Adams added: “It’s not good for kids, [not] good for harmony, not good for communities... many Orange men, particularly rural Orange men, are discommoded and embarrassed by it.”

Mr Adams also confirmed that two party TDs had been reprimanded for not turning up in the Dáil and voting against a motion to ban hare coursing.

Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan’s motion was in the end defeated but Sinn Féin TDs Dessie Ellis and Jonathan O’Brien received written warnings for not turning up.