Joan Burton silent on personal support of Gilmore

Joan Burton has declined to say directly if she would like Eamon Gilmore to lead Labour into the local and European elections next year.

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When asked three times by reporters if she would like to see Eamon Gilmore as party leader leading Labour through to the votes, she would only say that it is what she "expects" him to do.

"He said the other day that he will. Eamon is tremendously popular and rightly so among Labour party members, and among members of the parliamentary party, and he's committed himself to doing that and absolutely that's what I expect him to do."

The Social Protection Minister's comments come after rebel Senator John Kelly gave a newspaper interview saying the Tánaiste should be replaced as leader before next May.