The Labour Party has accused the Fianna Fail Party of indifference towards the wishes of the ordinary people of Ireland and of being more interested in the politics of popularity than populist politics.
In the opening address of the Labour Party’s annual conference, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, President of the Labour Party and MEP for Dublin, told supporters the Taoiseach's record symbolises all that is worst about current government.
"The Taoiseach, himself, has come to symbolise all that is worst about this government," Mr De Rossa said.
"A Taoiseach who has failed to recognise that there is more to political leadership than simply being liked. Has there ever been a Taoiseach whose term of office has shown such little leadership?
"Can anyone remember a single courageous decision taken by this Taoiseach during his term of office? Can anyone remember a single occasion when this Taoiseach said it is more important to make the correct decision than to make the popular decision."
The Conference, which opened this afternoon in Cork, will develop the party’s strategy for the next general election and is due to finish on Sunday afternoon.
"This conference, Mr de Ross said, " must be the launching pad for our general election campaign which will have as its core objectives the calling to account of this dreadful government and the return of Labour Party candidates in sufficient numbers to ensure the implementation of the policies we have already published and the new policy positions we will agree here over the weekend."