The Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern issued a pre-general election rallying call to Fianna Fail tonight in the wake of this week's humbling abortion referendum defeat.
Launching the party's annual conference in Dublin, Mr Ahern said of the failed nationwide poll - his second in successive years after the earlier rejection by voters of the Nice Treaty for European Union expansion: "The people have spoken, and the people's voice is the final word in a democracy.
"Now is the time to continue on with the important work of securing Ireland's future."
The 6,000-delegate conference opened against a backdrop of gloom for Fianna Fail over the failed referendum bid to amend an existing consitutional barrier to abortion.
Mr Ahern went into the party meeting after hearing a demand from Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan to call the general election as soon as it ended.
Mr Noonan said: "It is now time to get on with it. The present government is tired and tired governments make mistakes."
Mr Ahern is expected to stick to his plans to go to the country in early May. He has made it clear that the referendum defeats will have no impact on his position - or the timing or outcome of the election.
The Taoiseach’s position was backed today by Foreign Minister Mr Brian Cowen.
He said: "I do not expect the referendum result to overhang the Ard Fheis (conference).
"I think people saw the referendum proposal as an honest attempt by this government to fulfill a promise we gave to try and deal with the matter. It's not an issue."
Party general secretary Mr Martin Macken commented: "I do not think it will put a dampener on things. We are going to see a strong, focused party.
"I think at the end of the day people can de-couple the referendum from issues. And Bertie Ahern is still the most popular political leader in the country."
Mr Ahern delivers his keynote address to the conference tomorrow night.
PA