After Rabbitte, Labour must get back to basics

NOW that we are in the post Pat Rabbitte era, I believe the Labour Party must listen to the very clear message we received from our electorate and from those who are supporters of left politics in the Republic.

I believe that rather than putting our energy into accords and inter-party strategies, Labour urgently needs to continue its work on the ground in the communities where it is most needed.

It is only by continuing to listen and to represent people on the issues that affect their lives that we will be equipped to campaign forcefully for policy change on issues such as health inequalities, educational disadvantage, lack of social and affordable housing and inappropriate planning and development, etc.

Just in case we lose the run of ourselves in this so-called ‘tiger’ economy, let’s remember that Ireland has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the developed world, unacceptably high numbers on housing lists, women still without access to essential health services such as cancer screening and, in the south-east, no access to public radiotherapy.

The Labour Party needs to get back to its roots as quickly as possible and get on with the anti-poverty and social justice work for which it was founded. Never was there a more urgent need to do so as Ireland becomes more and more polarised.

Never was there a more urgent need for a revitalised, dynamic Labour party.

Cllr Seamus Ryan

4 Ursuline Court

Waterford