Gilmore defends Labour record in Government

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has defended the party's performance in Government, saying the party would not retreat from its responsibility to turn the economy around.

He insisted that there was no question of the party putting its electoral concerns ahead of the interests of the country, saying that had been the “ruination” of the country.

Mr Gilmore made the comments as he began a four-day trade mission in Turkey.

Speaking to the Irish Times, Mr Gilmore there was a fair question to be asked as to whether the party was effectively getting its message across to the public and that was an issue he had been discussing with party members.

Mr Gilmore has faced increasing questions about his leadership of the party in recent weeks. In March, the party suffered a poor showing in the Meath East byelection, getting only 4.5 per cent of the vote. That was in contrast to the 21 per cent of the vote it won in the same constituency in 2011.

The party was also hit in recent days with the resignation of MEP Nessa Childers, the seventh from the parliamentary party since entering Government two years ago.

Ms Childers has publicly rejected suggestions by Mr Gilmore and Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte that staying in Government through tough times was the hard choice.

“I find that an outrage as do other people...the idea that somehow what we have done is not courageous,” she said.

“My question to them is, answer me: is cutting benefits to women and children an act of courage?

"I aim to turn that back on those people and challenge the parliamentary Labour party to say why they are continuing with these policies."