Rabbitte encouraged by brisk turnout

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte arrived in Clondalkin, west Dublin, to cast his vote and joked with reporters as to why he was receiving so much media attention on the day of the poll.

He said: “Where were you all during the campaign when I needed you?”

After voting Mr Rabbitte said he was encouraged by the unusually brisk turn-out reported by staff in the centre.

“I think people have been waiting a long time to exercise this particular ballot.”

The Labour leader would not be drawn on which of the party’s two European candidates, Prionsias de Rossa or Ivana Bacik, earned his first preference in the ballot, but he guaranteed that it was a vote for Labour.

He said: “I certainly voted for the Labour Party and I’m looking forward to a good result tomorrow.”