Labour 'working too much without getting message across', says Shortall

The Labour Party has not been successful in "getting the message across" since it entered Government, Junior Health Minister Roisin Shortall said today.

She added that relations with Coalition partners Fine Gael are "reasonably OK".

Her comments came ahead of a Labour Parliamentary Party meeting this afternoon, which will examine its achievements and mistakes over the last 12 months.

The coalition Government will mark its first year in office on March 9 next.

When asked about the relationship between the parties, Minister Shortall said: "They are reasonably OK."

"The reality is I suppose that we're only a third of the Government, so we have to sometimes concede on issues," she continued.

"Maybe we haven't been that good on doing our own PR in terms of what different Labour Ministers are doing in Government and the achievement they're making.

"It's a difficult time in Government, there's no doubt about that.

"People have been keeping their head down and working too much without thinking about getting the message across."