Labour leader hopeful Alan Kelly has rubbished claims that freezing rents is unconstitutional and released previously undisclosed government advice which supported a temporary stop to landlord rate hikes.

At a press launch at Buswells Hotel, in a show of strength, Mr Kelly was flanked by many party figures including former TDs Jan O'Sullivan, Willie Penrose and Mary Upton

"After considerable reflection, I have taken the decision not to allow my name to go forward," Ged Nash announced this morning.

In a move that was not unexpected, Mr Howlin said that he would be instigating a leadership contest with immediate effect.

Labour Leader Brendan Howlin is facing a heave as Tipperary TD Alan Kelly has said he “is not the right man to lead the party”.

Brendan Howlin has said that he understood the depth of the crisis that faced the Labour party in the aftermath of the last general election.

A dozen of 51 Labour Party councillors have written to leader Brendan Howlin to seek an urgent meeting with him to discuss his leadership.

Labour councillors calling for Brendan Howlin’s resignation are not acting as part of an “orchestrated heave” on behalf of aspirant leaders, party figures say.

Brendan Howlin does not need to be overly spooked by the calls for his head just now, writes Daniel McConnell.

Willie Penrose says calls for a new party leader are less than helpful.

Pressure is mounting on Brendan Howlin to resign as Labour leader after a fourth party member publicly called on him to stand aside.

Three Labour councillors have called for a leadership contest within the party.

Under-pressure Labour leader Brendan Howlin is facing a growing grassroots revolt after a councillor publicly broke ranks to warn the party will sleep-walk into "oblivion" unless he is replaced by rival TD Alan Kelly.

Siptu’s general president Jack O’Connor has thrown his hat in the ring to become the next chairman of the Labour Party.

The Communication Workers Union backed Mr Corbyn, having supported him in last year's election.

Brendan Howlin, the former public expenditure minister, is widely expected to be the only candidate for the Labour leadership.

Former deputy Labour leader Barry Desmond has backed Brendan Howlin to take over the leadership and warned that Alan Kelly would face “problems” if he secured the position.

Labour’s Alan Kelly is piling pressure on his party to let him run for the leadership, with ordinary members now formally lobbying for an open contest for the position.

Brendan Howlin has said he is 'absolutely' willing to engage in a Labour leadership contest.

Labour is also losing three of its most experienced members, three former leaders in fact, writes Alison O’Riordan

As Enda’s Options and the Game of Joan’s reach critical focus, who will go where?

GOOD LUCK, Joan. You’re going to need lots of it. I’m pretty sure that every member of the Labour Party, including those who opposed you, genuinely wish you well.

New Tánaiste Joan Burton has signalled fighting for the low paid will be a key priority of her time as Labour leader.

FROM adoption as a toddler to elevation to the office of Tánaiste at the age most people retire, Joan Burton’s life has been shaped by a remarkable ability to overcome the odds.

Labour’s new deputy leader Alan Kelly has insisted that he expects a Cabinet seat in next week’s reshuffle.

Alex White may not be in the running for a senior ministerial position after picking up less than 30% of the vote in the Labour leadership contest.

WHEN he came from virtually nowhere to win the nomination to contest a seat for Labour in the European Parliament in 2009, Alan Kelly told party members he would run "the most professional campaign you have ever seen".

THE overwhelming victory of Joan Burton as the first woman to lead the Labour Party has cleared the decks for the new tánaiste to take on the daunting task of resuscitating Labour’s flagging political fortunes.

DESPITE Joan Burton unexpectedly losing Ruairi Quinn, her education minister, she needs to do a crash course in the three Rs — reshuffle, rewrite and rejuvenate. The Tánaiste-designate is in the unusual position of having seen her three predecessors as Labour leader swept out of the Cabinet by her rise.

The process of transforming the Department of Social Protection into an active and engaged employment service will continue, new Labour leader, Joan Burton insisted yesterday.

New Labour leader Joan Burton has been appointed as Tánaiste, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has confirmed.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has officially been elected as the new leader of the Labour Party.

Joan Burton is set to become the new leader of the Labour Party.

Joan Burton is expected to be confirmed as the new leader of the Labour party later today.

If she’d felt buoyed by the International Monitory Fund’s endorsement for her to lead the Labour Party, Joan Burton was brought back to earth last night by the grassroots concern about the party’s future.

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has said she will immediately begin Labour's general election campaign if she is elected party leader.

Labour’s leadership candidates have clashed on cutting a post-election deal with Sinn Féin, as Joan Burton accused Gerry Adams’s party of still being in a "nexus" with the IRA.

Joan Burton has emerged as the front runner in the first opinion poll on the Labour leadership.

Labour leader candidate Alex White has put himself on a collision course with his Fine Gael coalition partners after suggesting Ireland can push back its commitment to reducing its debt.

Labour's chief whip Emmet Stagg has said he would have difficulties entering Government with Sinn Féin.

Former Labour deputy leader Barry Desmond has backed Joan Burton to head the party, while also saying the Coalition needs to survive its full term.