Sinn Fein candidates will take their seats in the Northern assembly following the party's historic ardfheis change to its constitution, a decision described by Mr Gerry Adams as "clearing away what was a time warp".
Though the ballot at yesterday's specially reconvened ardfheis was expected to give overwhelming support for the leadership's request to drop the traditional ban on participating in a Northern assembly and to endorse a Yes vote on the Belfast Agreement, the vote delivered was near unanimous.
The result of the vote was greeted with relief in political circles in Dublin. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, welcomed the outcome of the special ardfheis, saying the party had delivered on its commitment to the Belfast Agreement "to take a positive and constructive approach in the pursuit of peace and stability".
Adding his voice to the approval, the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said the decision was a positive development.
The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said the British government had always hoped that the agreement would be supported by all parties at the Stormont talks.
"This is now the case and that must bode well for the future of Northern Ireland," she said.
All but some 20 of the 350 Sinn Fein delegates at the RDS in Dublin endorsed the two motions, tabled by the party's ardchomhairle, seeking the constitutional change and approval, North and South, of the April 10th agreement.
However, while Mr Adams twice asked delegates to support the motions, he advised them that they could vote as they wished when they actually voted on May 22nd.
Subsequently asked what he meant by this, Mr Adams said he was simply telling people with very strong views that they should not feel their attitudes were any less valid.
"It is up to them to do whatever they want to do in terms of referendums as their conscience dictates.
"That is the position all the churches have and the position that a lot of the other parties have."
The presence of 27 republican prisoners at the RDS, including the Balcombe Street four who have served 23 years in prison and were repatriated from Britain last week, provided a major boost to the leadership's two motions and led to scenes of wild enthusiasm.
Mr Adams subsequently confirmed that his party had lobbied the British and Irish governments for the parole of six prisoners in order to attend the ardfheis.
Two high-profile prisoners - Martina Anderson, on parole from Maghaberry Prison, and Padraig Wilson, from the Maze prison - appealed to delegates from the podium to endorse the motion.
Asked where yesterday's developments fitted into the evolution of republicanism, Mr Adams said "in many ways we could be clearing away what was a time warp, clearing away the undergrowth so that we can have the most flexible positions possible".
"The whole republican struggle can best be advanced if we have complete flexibility of movement. If we are forced or pushed into static positions, that suits our opponents.
"Let us not forget that our opponents are very powerful and those who are against change still hold very powerful positions."
Whether that "flexibility" should extend to removing the ban on Sinn Fein MPs taking their seats in Westminster, Mr Adams said he personally did not feel "any compulsion or imperative" to see this happen. It was not an issue, he added.
From the outset of yesterday's seven-hour conference, it was clear that the leadership would win the support it required - a two-thirds majority in the case of constitutional change and a simple majority in terms of endorsing the Belfast Agreement.