FORMER MINISTER OF State Róisín Shortall has spoken of the current dissatisfaction among Labour party members in an interview with local newspaper, the Northside People.
The Dublin TD, who resigned her ministerial position last year over the primary care centre controversy, did not rule out a possible leadership challenge within the party and criticised Eamon Gilmore openly.
“I am aware of a lot of dissatisfaction from within the party but we haven’t got to the point of a heave just yet,” she told reporter Aoibhinn Twomey.
I’m not ruling anything out. Anything’s possible at this stage.
“There is a very strong desire to see change and a new type of politics,” she added.
Shortall said she has been shown “a lot of goodwill” since her resignation.
On Gilmore’s leadership style, the deputy believes he “hasn’t listened to the people”.
And on the latest Budget, she claimed that “there was a higher expectation of the Labour Party and I believe the Government had choices on alternative budgetary measures in place of those it proposed”.
Since entering Government 20 months ago, five of Labour’s elected representatives in the Dáil have voted against the party line, losing the whip. They include deputies Colm Keaveney, Willie Penrose, Patrick Nulty and Tommy Broughan.
On top of internal problems, Labour has also been criticised from the outside for its handling of the Budget, as well as the abortion/X Case legislation issue.
And if Shortall’s assertions carry weight, Gilmore’s woes look set to continue through 2013.
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