Sinn Féin 'obviously' hoped for a better result in the local elections, the party's TD for Waterford has said.
David Cullinane was speaking as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are battling it out to be the largest party.
The Government parties are doing much better than many expected.
Nationally, a predicted a 'wipe out' for the Green Party is not happening.
Independents are performing very well while a predicted Sinn Féin bounce is not forthcoming.
Deputy Cullinane told Newstalk they had hoped for a better outcome.
"It seems that we are going to make council seat gains across the State - particularly in areas like Waterford, Monaghan [and] Mayo.
"Obviously there's still many seats to play for... we don't have first counts in yet across most constituencies.
"It's not what we had hoped to be, we had hoped to make more substantial gains but we have to look at the positives of the gains that we will make right across the State.
"I know that many of our first-time candidates who worked hard obviously won't be elected on the tallies that we have seen."
'It's not what we had hoped - but we have to look at the positives and the gains that we will make'@sinnfeinireland's @davidcullinane reacts to his party's #LE24 performance#LE24 #Elections2024 @ElectionNT @andreagilligan pic.twitter.com/dTAazmq2iI
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) June 8, 2024
Deputy Cullinane said the party needs to ' re-group' and listen to the electorate.
"There are areas cross the State where the party is making gains but obviously it's not what we wanted and it's not enough," he said.
"We have to accept that; I think it's important for us as a party to listen to the electorate.
"The first thing that we will do is get back to work on Monday - because what we in Sinn Féin seek to do is still to lead the next government.
"What we need to do now is re-group and look to get the biggest mandate for change that we can in the next general election".
Deputy Cullinane said he "absolutely" believes Mary Lou McDonald is the right person to lead Sinn Féin into the next general election.
