‘We can persuade voters for next general election’

Large numbers of Labour supporters who abstained from voting in the local elections could be persuaded to back the party in the next general election, a former deputy leader has suggested.

Barry Desmond also dismissed the notion that age might be an issue for whoever is chosen as the next leader of the Labour Party.

Following the bruising results for Labour at the polls last month, the Cork man said: “We have, going into the next election, whenever that will be, 51 councillors, 34 Dáil deputies, 11 senators, and therefore, we’re in a position to contest every Dáil constituency in the country.”