Ivana Bacik went into her party conference this weekend buoyed by some success.
It was the party's first national conference since before last year's Local, European and General Elections after which they nearly doubled their Dáil representation to 11 TDs. Six of them are first-timers. They sent an MEP to the European Parliament for the first time in a decade, got two Senators elected and 55 councillors.
Before the General Election, Ivana Bacik had been calling publicly for parties of the left to unite to offer a viable chance for voters to see an alternative government.
At the time she was a bit of a lone voice, but since the election, unity of purpose among the Opposition has shown to be very effective.
The speaking-time row had all the Opposition united but the Catherine Connolly Presidential campaign brought the left together. Ivana Bacik was enthusiastic in bringing her party to that campaign.
That all made for a confident leader when she addressed her party colleagues this evening.
In her speech she set out clear positions on a number of issues that will give the party a platform to sell to voters.
The demand for the Tánaiste to pass the Occupied Territories Bill by Christmas was no great surprise, but trenchant nevertheless.
The focus on the housing crisis - "the civil rights issue of this generation" - and the need to set up a State construction company to build thousands of houses and protect renters was also to be expected.
In other areas, however, there were some surprises; a referendum is needed "to protect the Triple Lock and secure Ireland’s neutrality" she said; and she also called on the British and Irish Governments "to set a clear timetable for the holding of a Unity referendum" which delegates greeted with applause. The goal she said "is to build a new 32-county republic".
On the other Dáil parties, she was also very clear. Sinn Féin, she said, are now one of the three biggest parties "and we have significant differences with each of those".
By omission she was also giving a cold shoulder to PBP-Solidarity leaving them out when she named the two left parties which she sees as compatible with Labour.
"We are closely aligned in our values with the Green Party and Social Democrats," she said.
Sharing values does not mean agreeing joint candidates, however, and there were cheers in the hall when she assured delegates the party would stand its own candidate in the Galway West by-election to fill the seat left by Catherine Connolly.
Ultimately what the political future holds for Ivana Bacik and the Labour Party will come down to voters in the next General Election, still four years away. It seems a long time, but for the oldest political party in the State, what’s a few years!
