Politics

Eamon Gilmore tells TDs his ‘door is always open’

Parliamentary party meeting supportive of Labour leader following MEP’s criticism

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore raised the issue of the weekend call for his resignation as Labour leader by MEP Phil Prendergast. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore raised the issue of the weekend call for his resignation as Labour leader by MEP Phil Prendergast. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
Fiach Kelly
Thu May 01 2014 - 01:00


Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore told his TDs and senators last night that his door is always open to them if they have any concerns about the party or his leadership.

He was speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party in Leinster House, where the weekend call for the Tánaiste's resignation as Labour leader by MEP Phil Prendergast was discussed.

Those at the private meeting said Mr Gilmore himself raised the issue at the outset and said he was always available to talk to anyone who had concerns.

However, nobody supported Ms Prendergast’s points of view and the MEP was not present at the meeting herself.

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A number of TDs and senators are said to have spoken on the issue, with one deputy saying the general feeling was that Ms Prendergast’s comments weren’t helpful.

“There was no real anger, it was: just let’s get on with it,” said one deputy.

“We have candidates in the field and we should be supporting them.”

It is understood that most speakers, while also touching on issues such as water charges, broadband and housing, made some reference to the controversy of the past few days.


Message
Jack Wall, the chairman of the parliamentary Labour Party, said afterwards: "It wasn't helpful, that was the general feeling of it, but we move on now. We have three weeks to an election and we have a good message to sell."

He also said it “has always been the way” that Mr Gilmore’s door is open, and TDs were always welcome to approach him.

There was also discussion of the video posted online of a Labour council candidate being subjected to verbal abuse. The video shows Martina Genockey being verbally attacked by residents while canvassing with her mother and brother in Jobstown, Tallaght.

TDs claimed the abuse directed towards Ms Genockey was similar to “fascism” and was, in effect, threatening democracy.

In the incident, which took place earlier this week, Ms Genockey is heard to tell the residents filming her: “Don’t vote for me if you don’t want to”, to which one resident replied: “Not a chance in hell will we vote for you” and “Labour traitors, Labour traitors.”