Joan Burton: High probability of Labour re-election

The Tánaiste and Labour Party leader has said she believes there is a “high probability” her party will be returned to government at the next general election despite poor performances in recent polls.

Joan Burton conceded that the election is going to be “very, very challenging,” not just for her party “but for every party”.

Defending her party’s failure to resist cuts they pledged to face down at the last general election, Ms Burton said the promises, which included resisting water charges, were based on the assumption that they would be the main government party in 2011, which hadn’t come to pass.