Former tánaiste and Labour leader Dick Spring is “extremely concerned” at the situation the party finds itself in and has warned that there is a very short window to correct matters.

Speaking on Radio Kerry today, Mr Spring said people were “beaten up” by austerity and that the Government parties had made a number of mistakes before the local elections – particularly regarding medical cards.

“I am extremely concerned at the situation the Labour party finds itself in,” he said. “I think the Government have a very short window to correct the situation and to understand the people are beaten up by the austerity programme we have had...”

The leader of the Labour Party between 1982 and 1997, Mr Spring lost his Dáil seat to Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris in the 2002 general election.

Still residing in Kerry, he has since devoted himself to business and holds a number of board positions including with Eircom. He is a director of Fexco and chairman of technology firm Altobridge, which has just gone into receivership.

His nephew Arthur Spring, TD for Kerry North-West Limerick, has backed Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton to be the next Labour leader, after deciding against contesting the leadership himself.