Penrose calls on Labour to avoid leadership election

Labour Party chairman Willie Penrose has said he believes the party should avoid a leadership election and pick a “consensus candidate” to succeed Joan Burton who announced her resignation as leader this week.

“I don’t believe chasing around the country for about four or five weeks is a productive use of time,” Mr Penrose told a press conference in Dublin. He indicated he did not intend to nominate or second any candidate.

“It’s appropriate that I remain neutral. I have indicated quite clearly my view that I would like to see a consensus candidate emerge.”

Brendan Howlin, who party sources say is the TD most likely to emerge as a consensus candidate, has indicated his interest in the post but said he would wait until after the weekend to make his decision.

Intentions

Limerick TD Jan O’Sullivan also said she would inform her colleagues about her intentions when the parliamentary party meets next Tuesday.

Tipperary TD and former minister for the environment Alan Kelly is believed to want to contest the leadership, but under Labour’s rules he will have to secure a seconder from among the party’s six other TDs. However, with Mr Penrose and Ms Burton saying they will remain neutral, the pool of potential seconders is small.

Mr Kelly declined to say if he had already secured a seconder or if he had yet sought one.

“Everyone is talking to everyone,” he said. “The process will begin over the weekend and when the process begins, obviously positions will become quite clear.”

Reimburse

Labour yesterday published a Bill which would require Irish Water to reimburse people who have paid their water charges if the Dáil votes – as provided for in the programme for government – to suspend charges.

The Bill stipulates all charges would have to be refunded within six months by Irish Water. Mr Penrose said it would cost €125-€130 million. “We can’t have a situation where people who have complied with the law of the land are left feeling mugged,” he said.

If customers were not refunded when the charges were suspended, he said he would launch a legal challenge. “I already have the plenary summons drafted,” the Labour TD, who is also a barrister, said.