Tánaiste Joan Burton has seemingly wasted no time in getting the Labour party’s election campaign underway by urging voters to re-elect the current coalition if they want the economic recovery to continue.
Ms Burton say’s the Irish people should stick with the current collation because “they inherited a ruin and worked extremely hard to rebuild it”. The Tánaiste told reporters that the Labour and Fine Gael parties should be returned to power.
Ms Burton said: “The real test of any government is whether they leave the country in a better place and I will say with the Fine Gael-Labour Government we have definitely done that. We inherited a ruin and we rebuilt it, because it is right for the Irish people. “Yesterday’s unemployment figures are down to 8.6% from a high of over 15%, that is a real indication people all over Ireland are getting back to work. The Labour party leader further explained: “That’s happening not just in city areas but right across the country,” adding the coalition has been “a very united government”.
Meanwhile when asked if her leaving the Dáil this morning offered one last photo call outside Government buildings, Ms Burton responded by saying that she is taking inspiration from Seachtain Meabhdh Bhride and her leadership of the Labour party in the past. The Tánaiste said: “She was a very powerful woman and role model in early Irish history. I’m delighted to be the first woman leader of Labour, the response is strong and I’m very confident we will re-elect this Government.”
Before adding: “It’s been a great privilege to have served in Government, to have been Tánaiste, and it’s now in the hands of the people.”