Gilmore warns on poor record in retaining seats

Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has strongly criticised his party's internal organisation, saying that in many constituencies the minimum level of political and canvassing activity was not being carried out, writes Harry McGee , Political Staff

In an internal party paper seen by The Irish Times , Mr Gilmore cited Labour's inability to retain Dáil seats as its biggest problem historically, pointing to 32 occasions over the past 30 years when it failed to retain a seat.

Mr Gilmore's assessment was made at a private meeting of the party's National Executive Council in Waterford last weekend.

Mr Gilmore implored any sitting TD who did not intend to run in the next general election to inform him confidentially as soon as possible. "We know, from experience, that where incumbents withhold their intentions, it is very difficult to plan for and deliver succession," he said.

Mr Gilmore intends nominating a director of elections for next year's local and European elections within weeks and also to ask a new national organiser to recruit strong new candidates.

Meanwhile, Mr Gilmore yesterday said a fundamental review of economic policy was required following the financial turmoil in world markets over the past week.

In a speech on the economy and the political situation, he vowed that over the next year his party would be departing from some of its current economic policies and embarking on "a new socio-economic agenda".

Mr Gilmore was addressing the SIPTU national executive in Liberty Hall. He criticised the late intervention of Finance Minister Brian Cowen into the property market, which he said left a serious imbalance which was now being rectified at enormous cost. He also argued that Ireland's reliance on construction to generate new jobs was never going to be sustainable.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times