Sinn Féin's President Gerry Adams has indicated there is nobody in the party with such an established relationship with the Democratic United Party as the just retired Martin McGuinness.
Sinn Féin is due to name a successor to Mr McGuinness tomorrow and many expect it to be Tyrone MLA Michelle O'Neill.
Former Stormont deputy first minister Mr McGuinness announced his retirement from politics on Thursday.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Mr Adams said that Sinn Féin will "replace the post but they can't replace the person".
He said: "The new person into the post will have to have the space to make his or her own mistakes but our resolve is to continue the work that Martin was doing.
"He [Martin] did that in a very decent, tolerant and patient way. Whoever comes into the post will continue with that."
Speaking about his own leadership role, Mr Adams said he discussed a date to step down as party president with Mr McGuinness.
He said nobody else in the party knows the timeline.
However, Mr Adams said his intention would be to lead the party into the next election.
Mr Adams also said subject to his duties in Leinster House, he hopes to be involved in negotiations to rebuild institutions in Northern Ireland after the upcoming Stormont Assembly elections.
British Govt rejects Adams' Brexit claim over GFA
The British government has said Mr Adams' claims that Brexit will destroy the Good Friday Agreement are unfounded.
A statement from the British government said none of the institutions and provisions set out in the Belfast Agreement, including those relating to human rights, are in any way undermined by the decision of the UK to leave the EU.
It added: "These comments are totally without any basis in fact."
The Sinn Féin leader said Northern Ireland should enjoy special status within the union of 27 states after Brexit, and claimed that would not affect the constitutional settlement which secures its status as part of the UK.
The British government said: "The UK Government is fully behind the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and its successors, including Stormont House and Fresh Start. There will be no return to the borders of the past.
"We are also working intensively to ensure that following the forthcoming election strong and stable devolved government that works for everyone is re-established in Northern Ireland."
Mr Adams addressed a conference on achieving a united Ireland in Dublin yesterday.
He said: "The British Government's intention to take the North out of the EU, despite the wish of the people there to remain, is a hostile action.
"Not just because of the implications of a hard border on this island, but also because of its negative impact on the Good Friday Agreement.
"The British Prime Minister repeated her intention to bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court.
"Along with her commitment to remove Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights, this stand threatens to undermine the fundamental human rights elements of the Good Friday Agreement."
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