Labour will push Coalition to renew purpose

The Labour Party will push for a renewal of the Coalition’s plans amid concern that the Government’s stability is at risk following a spate of recent scandals.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore made the commitment yesterday saying it would involve talks with Fine Gael. However, he denied that it was a rewriting of the Programme for Government between the parties.

His pledge comes as Labour faces the prospect of losing significant support in this month’s elections, according to recent polls. One Labour minister yesterday also warned the Coalition may not last its full term.

Making his first comments since the release of damning Guerin report on claims of garda malpractice, Mr Gilmore said future allegations would need to be responded to promptly.

“The problem we have seen over the past couple of months is the consequence of not dealing with allegations, allowing them to drift over a long period of time and not having them dealt with to the satisfaction of the complainant.”

Speaking after the James Connolly Commemoration at Arbour Hill, Dublin, the Labour leader said problems with gardaí were not a recent occurrence but existed for a long time.

He said the establishment of an authority to independently govern the gardaí would be the “most fundamental change” in the management of the force since it was founded in the 1920s.

Changes would also allow gardaí to report complaints to the Garda ombudsman and avail of protection under whistleblower legislation, he added.

Mr Gilmore was asked about comments made by Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte in which he voiced concern about the stability of the Coalition.

Mr Rabbitte told a Sunday newspaper: “The single-minded focus of the first three years has to be restored. If the drift of the last three months is allowed continue and if the Government divides in factions, it is pretty obvious, really, that we won’t see 2016.”

This drift would have to be addressed before the summer, said Mr Rabbitte, and the Government had to put a coherent plan together.

Addressing those remarks, Mr Gilmore said: “I think he’s making a statement of fact. Government has to continue to renew what it is doing. There is a need for a renewal of our purpose.”