Labour conference delegates differ on whether to stick with FG

There were differing views on whether Labour should enter the next government if it has a bad election day, as some polls have suggested.

Jimmy Kennedy (right) from Mallow, a former member of the local urban district council, as well as a member of the party's central council, said Labour should decide whether it had sufficient TDs to have an influence in government.

“I would have us on close on 20 seats before we would talk about going into government,’’ he said.

However, Fiona Dunne (below), a young delegate from Dublin Bay North, said Labour's entry into government would depend on its influence in whatever coalition was on offer.

“This is what we are talking about at the moment,” she said. “We are asking ourselves about influencing government policy.”

She said Labour should not be defeatist and would concentrate on what was happening in the next government.

“We should be talking about what we have done and what we would like to do,’’ she added. “Whatever happens, happens.’’

Cork South-West delegate Pat Morrissey was supporting outgoing Labour TD Michael McCarthy.

“On a very bad day I suppose we could secure seven or eight seats, although I think that is not going to happen,’’ said Mr Morrissey.

“I think we would have to be very careful if we decided to go into government with any party.’’

Jack Dempsey (right) from Westmeath said: “I would be inclined to do a deal on the basis of policy, irrespective of what the numbers would decide.”

He said Labour’s poor performance in the opinion polls into the weekend was because of the dreadful economic situation it had taken over.

“All those cuts were proposed by the Fianna Fáil-led government,’’ he added, “Tough decisions had to be made to made to get back on track.’’

Sinead Ahern (right) from Dublin Bay South said Labour's participation in government would not be based on the number of TDs it had elected but rather the policy it would agree with another party.

“I would not have been in favour of Labour going into coalition the last time around,’’ Ms Ahern added.

“But when I saw the deal on the table, and the commitments which were important to us, I thought it was the right thing to do.”

She said it would be difficult to say what the mood of the party would be after the election.

“We have had five years which were tough and bruising, not least on the doorsteps. People have suffered and I think we are all aware of that,” she said.

“But I think of the marriage equality referendum and how proud we were . . . and of some of our other superb achievements in government.’’