Eamon Gilmore elected new Party Leader

Posted on September 06, 2007

Taken following the close of nominations for Party Leader and Deputy Leader.

Today at noon nominations closed for the positions of Labour Leader and Deputy Leader. As only one name was put forward for Party Leader Eamon Gilmore is deemed to be Leader designate. You can read his acceptance speech here.

Two names were received for the position of Deputy Leader, Jan O'Sullivan TDand Joan Burton TD. Ballots will be in the post on September 13 and the election will be closed at noon on October 4th. In the meantime all candidates are embarking on a hustings tour of the country, the details of which can be found here.

Images from the press conference can be viewed on our Flickr account here.

Permanent link | Categories: Elections

The Leadership race is on

Posted on August 28, 2007

Since Pat's announcement last week that he is standing down as leader of the Labour Party all eyes are on who is going to replace him.

The Labour Party is the only party in Ireland where the leader is elected by rank and file members. Once nominations are officially opened the election will be held not later than 45 days after the final date for close of nominations. The method of election will be the single transferable vote by means of secret postal ballot.

As new candidates emerge we will update them here so keep checking back for announcements.

The following candidates have declared themselves for Leader;

UPDATE: 1pm - Tuesday, 28 August 2007 - Deputy Eamon Gilmore

The following candidates have declared themselves for Deputy Leader;

Read the full entry »

Permanent link | Categories: Elections

Pat Rabbitte announces resignation as Labour Leader

Posted on August 23, 2007

Today at 3.30pm Deputy Pat Rabbitte in front of a packed out press conference announced his intention to stand down as leader of the Labour Party effective immediately.

Leader since October 2002, Pat's election was the first party leadership to be elected based on the votes of rank and file members. He was first elected to the Dail in 1989.

Read the full entry »

Permanent link | Categories: Elections

New Deputies welcomed to the Dail

Posted on May 30, 2007

Deputy Ciaran Lynch, Cork South Central, Deputy Sean Sherlock, Cork East and Deputy Joanna Tuffy, Dublin Mid West being welcomed into the Dail by the Party Leader

Labour's three new deputies, Deputy Ciaran Lynch, Cork South Central, Deputy Joanna Tuffy, Dublin Mid-West and Deputy Sean Sherlock, Cork East came into the dail today where they were welcomed by the Party Leader Pat Rabbitte.

The new deputies also attended the Parliamentary Labour Party today which elected our Party Spokesperson on Arts, Sport and Tourism, and Deputy for Kildare South, Jack Wall, as the new Chair of the Parliamentary Labour party.

Jack replaces Willie Penrose who decided not to seek reelection as Chair. At the meeting Pat also announced that Deputy for Kildare North, Emmet Stagg, has been reappointed Party Whip.

Permanent link | Categories: Elections

The dust settles

Posted on May 28, 2007

The votes are counted and the dust is now beginning to settle on one of the most close and hard-fought campaigns in recent years.

In an election when the smaller parties were hit hard Labour held its own. While not a great result for us we are delighted to be welcoming some new TDs into our team. Well done to Joanna Tuffy in Dublin Mid-West, Sean Sherlock in Cork East and Ciaran Lynch in Cork South Central and their teams. We look forward to your contributions in the Dail.

Read the full entry »

Permanent link | Categories: Elections

The votes start coming in

Posted on May 25, 2007

Taken at this morning's count in the RDS, Dublin

[Update 16:37] Pat Rabbitte is the first Labour TD to be elected in Dublin South West while in Limerick West, an area not known for it's Labour traditions, our youngest candidate James Heffernan has polled 2,146 first preference votes, which is a great first outing for James.

[Update 13:12] Dublin South East tally below

Read the full entry »

Permanent link | Categories: Elections

Day 25 - one day to go until electorate get their say

Posted on May 23, 2007

Pat launching our countdown to change in the press centre of our campaign headquarters.

Only one more day to polling and one thing is clear the election will go down to the wire and every vote counts.

Across the country Labour has run a professional, energetic and principled campaign. We can be proud of the campaign we ran, the issues we focused on and the effort we have given. Now voters will have their say.

In the last couple of days Fianna Fail have been in disarray over the cost of implementing their plan to grant tax breaks to developers to build super private clinics on the grounds of public hospitals.

Senior Fianna Fail Ministers, including the Minister for Finance, have been at sea trying to give a precise cost for this scandalous plan.

You can read more about this scandal here.

Read the full entry »

Permanent link | Categories: Elections

Day 24 - the last press conference

Posted on May 22, 2007

Pat speaking at the last press conference of the campaign.

Today saw the last press conference of the campaign due to the moratorium placed on television and radio media in the last 24 hours of the countdown.

Speaking to journalists Pat said: "The people have a choice. For the last 22 days, Labour has run a campaign that has been unrelentingly positive. We have concentrated our efforts on putting forward our vision for the future of our country. A vision I call the Fair Society."

Pat also took the opportunity to dispel a lot of guff being thrown by Fianna Fail as they attempt to spread misinformation on our costed and researched policies.

Read the full entry »

Permanent link | Categories: Elections • Policy

A word from our Director of Elections

Posted on May 22, 2007

Roisin Shortall and Pat Rabbitte say no to five more years of FF and the PDs.

Your vote on Thursday is vital. This is the most important election in decades, it will also be the closest contest in living memory.

Ireland needs a change. We need a government that will end the chaos in our health service. That's our first priority. Labour will deliver the health service this country needs, but we need your support to make it a reality.

Labour has run a positive campaign on a positive agenda. Throughout the country our members and supporters have put in a tremendous campaign. In the final hours before polling day we'll be continuing our campaign for change.

Read the full entry »

Permanent link | Categories: Elections

Oh la la

Posted on May 22, 2007

French support for Michael D

We have no idea how or why but an election poster of Michael D has landed in France where it is proudly displayed on a bus shelter. (You can see a larger version here.)

But then maybe we shouldn't be too surprised at all given Michael D's international reputation.

Vive Michael D.

Permanent link | Categories: Elections