Sinn Féin’s deputy leader is refusing to speculate about when Gerry Adams might step down, or who would replace him.

Mary Lou McDonald says the party is “not a bit worried” about who might eventually take over when Adams steps down.

The party leader yesterday said he had begun planning for his departure, but would not say when that would be.

Deputy McDonald says it is not a major source of concern for the party.

“I have no comment to prolong this discussion,” she said, before adding: “People clearly worry so much on this issue – we’re not a bit worried.

“We have a collective leadership, we have a leader in Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness working alongside him, and lots of the rest of us, and that’ll get figured out.