Ahead of the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, which is due to begin this evening, RTÉ’s Political Correspondent Martina Fitzgerald looks at the three key issues which will be in the spotlight.
Gerry Adams and his future
The media has been pursuing Sinn Féin deputies and senators about their leader's "big" announcement at this weekend's Ard Fheis. His party colleagues say they are equally in the dark.
Some think Gerry Adams may stay as party president but may indicate a timeline to depart as leader in the Dáil. The big question is - will he lead Sinn Féin into the next general election?
This debate was triggered last September at the party's think-in in Co Meath.
It has become a tradition that Mr Adams is asked about his future intentions at this gathering - given his 34 year tenure in charge of the party.
He set the scene when he confirmed that he would "be allowing his name to go forward for the position of Uachtarán Shinn Féin". But, crucially this time, he said he would be setting out the "planned process of generational change, including my own future intentions".
That announcement, party officials say, will take place tomorrow night during Mr Adams's presidential address.
They say he wants to break the news to his party first.
Abortion
Sinn Féin had planned for a debate about abortion at this Ard Fheis.
It had not planned, however, for the comments of Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín on The Week In Politics programme last Sunday.
He claimed the Oireachtas Committee examining the Eighth Amendment was biased. But Mr Tóibín was quickly - and robustly - rebuffed by his Dáil colleagues Eoin Ó Broin and Jonathan O'Brien.
This is not the first time that Mr Tóibín has been at odds with his party on abortion.
In 2013 he lost the whip for six months after voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy bill. However, this time the public nature of the slap down from his colleagues was surprising.
This weekend, Ard Fheis delegates will debate eight motions on abortion, five of which support repealing the Eighth Amendment.
Significantly, the party's Ard Comhairle has tabled one of those motions. Given the importance of the Ard Comhairle, the outcome of the debate is viewed as a foregone conclusion.
However, two motions advocate that there should be a free vote on the issue when it comes before the Oireachtas. One motion favours retaining the current constitutional position.
What we are seeing is that Sinn Féin, like other parties, is going to have an internal but public debate on this contentious issue.
Debate this weekend will be limited, however, as only one hour has been allocated for discussion on abortion as well as policy on education and childcare.
Entering government buildings
At previous Sinn Féin Ard Fheiseanna, numerous motions were passed setting down various pre-conditions for going into government in the South.
It had to be the largest party in government. Property tax had to be abolished.
Now fast forward to this weekend's Ard Fheis, and there are again numerous motions ruling out going into government as the junior coalition partner.
There is also a motion again making abolition of property tax a pre-condition. However, significantly the first motion this year on this issue demonstrates a major policy shift.
The motion, from the Ard Comhairle, states that any decision on entering coalition will be made by a special Ard Fheis and will be based on the party's ability to secure "a progressive, republican programme for government".
So, no mention of being the largest party in government.
Sinn Féin, it would seem, is no longer sizeist.
And also, no mention of the property tax precondition.
Sinn Féin wants to be central to government formation speculation during the next general election campaign, fearing that to be excluded from the debate could hurt it electorally.
What we may know more about after this weekend, however, is whether Gerry Adams will be the main face on the party's posters whenever that campaign gets under way.
There will be live coverage of the Ard Fheis on RTÉ One from 11am to 1pm tomorrow, while Mr Adams' address to delegates will be televised at 8.30pm.
