Sinn Féin has launched a major reorganisation in the Republic, following a disappointing general election where it lost one Dáil seat.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the new strategy for the Republic was "kicking in" now.
"It will seek, in a systematic, almost forensic way, to build the party strategically ward by ward, parish by parish," he said.
Consultations are under way with party members throughout the island to review the election results in the Republic. Sinn Féin's first preference vote grew by 20,000, but the party ran 42 candidates in 41 constituencies compared with 27 in 2002.
"The area of concern and let's be very straight about it is in Dublin. Everywhere else you would have to be relatively satisfied that it wasn't a meltdown for the party," said Mr Adams.
Asked about criticisms of his television appearances during the election, Mr Adams acknowledged that the profile of leading party figures in the Republic must be increased.
"What we are trying to do is quite unprecedented, which is to build electoral support in both states. There are two different realities and they have been for some time. We have a southern leadership, or we have a southern dimension to our national leadership. We have to build their public profile," he said.
"One of the things that we will be rolling out within the party, which was in line before the election, is a five to 10 year plan which we will put together in the summer, and into the autumn," he added.
The plan would place "everyone on the same hymn sheet over the next five, to 10 years", said Mr Adams, speaking by telephone during a visit to the US.
During the election, Sinn Féin was criticised for late changes to long-standing policies, including dropping proposals to increase corporation tax and to raise income tax for those on more than €100,000.
"The party is quite entitled to change. Policies are not principles. Policies are the means by which you persuade people that you could achieve objectives," said the Sinn Féin leader.
Louth TD Arthur Morgan said: "I am wondering if there was an element of complacency in the organisation given that we have had a good election after a good election after a good election for literally decades now. I think we need to address that.
"We are not going to bounce back. We are going to claw our way back by our fingernails, inch by inch politically, right across this State."
