Dalton stepped down as RSF's president in 2018, but remained a member of the party's national executive. In March 2021, Dalton denounced violence as counterproductive, saying that violent acts (such as the 2019 killing of journalist Lyra McKee) turned the people against the cause of Irish republicanism.
Dalton stepped down as president of RSF in 2018 but continued to be a member of the party's national leadership. In March 2021, he criticized violence, arguing that acts like the 2019 killing of journalist Lyra McKee had alienated people from Irish republicanism.