Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has opened the party's special delegate conference in Kilkenny.
The conference is sure to exploit the many difficulties facing the Government.
In opening the conference, Mr Gilmore claimed that there is a cosy circle involving FÁS and senior ministers that provide its funding.
He also told delegates that it was time for Health Minister Mary Harney to step down because of her performance.
Mr Gilmore said the row over Ms Harney's hairdressing bill only served to divert attention away from much bigger issues.
He said the Labour Party had lost faith with because of her performance in her department.
The conference has also heard severe criticisms of the Irish healthcare system.
Cancer specialist Prof John Crown said it was 'unfair, inefficient', and 'poor quality.'
He said none of these problems would be fixed by the Government’s co-location plans and that co-location incentivises inactivity and inefficiency.
He also called for 'every single last PR contract' in the health service to be cancelled, saying they exist to block information and protect the corporate interests of the service.
Prof Crown described the decision to withdraw the cervical cancer vaccine programme as 'heartless and dumb'.
Members will be addressed by a range of speakers and will discuss preparations for next year's elections.
It had been planned to debate the report of a task force on the reorganisation of the party at the conference, but that has now been put back until next year.
However, with the economy in freefall and the Government's poll ratings, Labour has much else to discuss.
Despite the uncertainty, a General Election is still some time away and it is believed Mr Gilmore may use the conference to position Labour as an independent party with its own policies and identity, rather than a potential coalition partner.
There will be sessions on the health services, the national finances and preparations for the local and European elections next year, with the party leader's televised address tomorrow evening the centrepiece of the weekend.
