Gerry Adams will lead Sinn Féin into the next General Election, according to the party's Vice President Mary Lou McDonald.

Deputy McDonald rubbished reports suggesting Deputy Adams would step aside in order to allow someone else lead the party, when she spoke to Newstalk Breakfast earlier.

There had been speculation that Ms McDonald would step up as party leader in the Republic, however, she says there is no vacancy to fill: 

"No Sunday Independent would be complete without stories about Sinn Féin, and taking a swipe at Gerry Adams in particular. I don't know where the "sources" of this story are, but I can tell you that Gerry is the leader of Sinn Féin and will be leading us into the next General Election."

Election process

The leader of the party is elected by party members every year, at the Árd Fheis when delegates vote to elect or re-elect all of the top office holders.

When pushed on succession plans for the leadership of the party, Ms McDonald said Martin McGuinness is currently leading the party in the North while she herself at times leads in the South, because of the party's policy of collective leadership.

A date for this year's Árd Fheis has yet to be announced after it became clear the planned event would land in the middle of an election campaign.

Deputy McDonald says party members have yet to decide when it will be held.

Listen to Mary Lou McDonald's interview with Newstalk Breakfast earlier: