Statement issued by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore
I welcome the announcement by the Green Party calling for a general election in the second half of January.
The Green Party has at last recognised what the country has realised for many months, that this government is long passed its sell-by date and that it is incapable of leading the country to economic recovery.
I assume that if Fianna Fail does not agree to the holding of the election, that the Green Party will then withdraw from government forcing a dissolution of the Dail.
Fianna Fail has made a mess of the country; they have crippled the economy and and brought national morale to an unprecedented low.
After 13 years of bad government and weeks of lying to the Irish people, the unprecedented decision taken on Sunday effectively represents the handing over of the deeds of the country to the EU and the IMF.
It is essential that we have a new government elected as soon as possible.
My preference would be for a dissolution of the Dail today and the holding of a general election at the earliest possible date provided for under law.
This would allow the election of a new government by the middle of December.
The Labour Party will be contesting the general election with the objective of being the biggest party in the next government and the election of the first ever Labour Taoiseach.
We will be running candidates in every single constituency and are well placed to achieve our objectives.
The country has never more urgently needed a new government with the political authority that only a clear mandate can provide.
The new government will face a huge challenge to undo the economic and social damage done by Fianna Fail.
The Labour Party is determined to give the people the leadership required to turn this country around, rebuild the economy and restore national morale.
