Sinn Féin’s ruling body will have to call a special conference to determine the party’s position on future referendums in the wake of its support for the failed family and care votes earlier this year.

Delegates at the party’s ardfheis in Athlone raised concerns over how the party came to support the Government in the contentious referendums that were heavily defeated.

Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne said: “We got a call on the referendum wrong” and he said the party’s decision to back a Yes-Yes vote was “taken without adequate consultation with the members and members felt that their views weren’t taken on board”.

Dublin West TD Paul Donnelly also spoke in favour of an ardfheis motion calling on the party’s ard comhairle to hold a special delegate conference to determine Sinn Féin’s position on any future constitutional referendums.

He said the party’s “core principle is the voice of the membership” and he argued that “we give that voice back to the membership.”

The motion was passed by delegates.