Labour leader Ivana Bacik says party's 'absolute goal' is to build left alliance 

Ivana Bacik said Labour would meet with the Social Democrats on Friday with the explicit purpose of forging a common platform and an agreed agenda for change. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

Labour has not ruled out going into coalition alone as the parliamentary party met for the first time since the general election.

Party leader Ivana Bacik has spoken to the three main party leaders, Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Simon Harris, as a formality but remains focused on establishing a common platform on the left.