Brendan Howlin undecided over contesting Labour leadership

Former Minister Brendan Howlin says he is interested in the leadership of the Labour Party, but will take the weekend to discuss with party members before throwing his hat into the ring.

“I have said many times that I want to be leader,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet, I’ve talked to hundreds of our party members. I have a clear view about how we can build the party. It will not be old politics again, we need to shape the future.”

He said he had no fear of an election within the party.

“We need to hit the ground running, we need to be united in purpose, we need to know what we’re about. If there is to be a vote of membership, well and good.

“If you want to open your wounds and examine the entrails that can be damaging. There is a downside to having a public process.

“It is healthy that so many are interested in the leadership.”

On the issue of Labour’s experiences in the recent general election he said: “When we steered the ship into calmer waters people were annoyed about the pain.

“It’s like someone mugged Ireland, Fianna Fáil mugged Ireland and we came in with the ambulance.”

“We made plenty of mistakes, the biggest one – from a Labour perspective, was when we sat at EMC, when didn’t get our way about the timescale of the delivery of Irish Water, that was a real big mistake, even if it meant bringing down the government at the time.

“We should have held our ground on that. But we made a choice, (Eamon and I) that night, that the interest of our country was more important than swallowing that which we knew was a mistake.”

When asked if there was space for a left of centre party he responded: “is there space for a real left of centre party that will engage in real issues for working people and improve their lot and provide a social agenda for thinking people - you bet your bippy there is.”

The Wexford TD said he has a clear view on how to rebuild the party and was “100 per cent committed to the future of the party.”

The former minister has stood twice for the leadership and lost both times. If he decides to run Mr Howlin will need another TD to second his nomination.

The Labour Party national executive will meet this weekend to decide on the process to replace Ms Burton.

Nominations for the position will open next week and contenders will have a number of days to put their name forward.