Rabbitte enters contest for Labour leadership

Pat Rabbitte is the latest Labour TD to confirm he is to contest the leadership of the party.

The Dail deputy for Dublin South-West joins Joan Burton and Brendan Howlin, who are the only confirmed candidates so far.

Rabbitte says he has been taking soundings at various levels of the party and the feedback says the time has arrived for change and a fresh start within Labour.

He says Labour must re-connect to its historic base - ordinary workers in the cities, towns and countryside.

Rabbitte is a native of Co Mayo and has been a member of the Labour Party since 1976.

He was also a Minister of State in the rainbow coalition between 1995 and 1997.