'Quite possible' Sinn Féin will have new leader within five years

A Sinn Féin TD says it's "quite possible" that his party will have a new leader within the next five years.

However, Eoin Ó Broin says he doesn't think Gerry Adams will step down as party leader within the next two years.

The Dublin Mid-West TD was reacting to comments from a branch chairman in Cavan, who says it is time for Adams to "get off the stage".

Speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Eoin Ó Broin denied that Gerry Adams was a hindrance to Sinn Féin's success.

"For me, the key thing is this," he said. "Will Sinn Fein change the leader of our party? Yes we will.

"Is it going to happening the next year or two? I don't think so.

"Is it likely to happen in the next five years? I think that's quite possible.

"If Sinn Féin can get, on average, 24% of the vote in a quarter of constituencies today, there is no reason why we can't expand and develop that under our current leadership and our current policy portfolio."