Joan Burton says she believes Government should run its full term

Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton has said she believes the Government should run its full term.

“My own view is that we should use the remaining year in full in order to bring the country to a better place in terms of the recovery in jobs,’’ she said.

Ms Burton said Taoiseach Enda Kenny had said that made sense and she agreed.

Labour, she added, should be able to show clearly to the electorate at the next election that there was a need for a continuation of a solid path to growth, investment, employment and jobs.

Speaking to journalists at the close of Labour’s annual conference in Killarney, she said the feedback from delegates at the weekend was positive and people were up for what was going to be a major challenge at the next election.

Ms Burton declined to speculate on the number of seats the party would win. Flanked by members of the parliamentary party, she said she wanted to see all of Labour’s TDs and Senators retain their seats.

They were prepared for the hard work involved, she added.

She said she was doing a tour of the constituencies, which provided her with an opportunity to have detailed discussions with party members.

She said Labour had a job of work to do and a good story to tell. The party should go to the people with its next programme for government and show that the chaos on the Opposition benches was not appetising at all.

Rounding on Sinn Fein, she accused its deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald of being "prone to exaggeration'' in predicting that Labour would not be around after the next general election.

Ms Burton said Sinn Fein in power would significantly increase taxation because of its populist economics and policies.

“I would not trust their judgement on economics and I think some of the policies they have put forward would put this country on a very dangerous and dubious path,’’ he added.

“It would not be in the best interest of people.’’

Ms Burton said she was ready to debate the economy with Ms McDonald in the Dail and see if she had any plans to get people back to work.