Labour remains in political doldrums but party faithful believe Ivana Bacik is a ‘positive influence’

Labour Party strategies are so popular that “even Leo Varadkar nicked some of our policies” according to Gary Lynch, vice chair of the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency organisation. He quips that everybody has “stolen our lunch”.

The Taoiseach stole their policy of increasing the minimum wage, he says.

One of 600 members attending the party’s two-day conference at the Helix in DCU, the 70-year-old retired jeweller and postal worker has high hopes for Labour in the local elections on June 7th and thinks they can win up to 70 seats, an increase on the current 56.

He “idolises” party leader Ivana Bacik but acknowledges some opposition to “the liberal agenda”. He however adores “what she did before she became leader” and on opinion polls, he gives the classic response. “The only poll that matters” is on election day.

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Of the Social Democrats he will only say they “pursue primarily the same policies we do but there may be personality clashes” between the two parties.

[ Housing crisis is civil rights issue of this generation, Labour leader Ivana Bacik tells party conference ]

In a crowded left-wing arena Cllr Fiona Connelly stresses Labour’s long history of serving the Irish public, its organisational links around the country and the labour network across Europe.

She too admires the leader and her record on equality issues, and she reflects an apparent party-wide stance not to criticise the Social Democrats. Cllr Connelly makes a sporting reference, saying she is competitive but also a team player and feels the same way about politics. “I would hate to say something unkind about a competitor and then when we’re both on the council say ‘hey let’s work together’”, on issues.

She loves the role, following her co-option to Dublin City Council in the Kimmage-Rathmines area nine months ago to succeed councillor Mary Frehill. The 42-year-old primary schoolteacher is hopeful that because she has worked diligently as a councillor she will be returned by the electorate. “It’s like the Leaving Cert, if you study hard you’ll get the results.”

For the eight years Evin Ryan has been a member of the Labour Party it has been polling poorly. s

“We’ve been the doldrums since I joined the party. That’s all I’ve ever known,” says the 25-year-old architect and Wexford constituency member.

But he believes Labour will do well in the local elections because of the quality of its candidates, even though it will be difficult with the increase in various “flavours of Independents”. He points to the Rosslare end of Wexford constituency where he worries about likely success for candidates running on an anti-immigrant platform.

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He is hopeful for Labour in the European elections with Dublin Bay North TD Aodhán Ó Riordáin running in Dublin and sociologist Niamh Hourigan in Ireland South. “They are two strong people,” with the potential for at least one seat.

Despite no bounce for the party since the leader took office two years ago, he believes “Ivana has been a very positive influence”.

Bridín Lyng Moloney feels the same, describing the Dublin Bay South TD as an inspirational and impressive politician of integrity. The 47-year-old community education facilitator insists Labour has a rural party dimension, and is not just an urban party, an accusation that has been thrown consistently at Bacik. The Wexford-based delegate is also amazed at the calibre of Labour candidates. She believes “we didn’t explain ourselves enough about what we did in 2011 to 2016″ when in coalition with Fine Gael and what Labour prevented happening by being in Government.

Bridín says “it’s easy to shout out” when you’ve never been in Government and making difficult decisions. On the Social Democrats she thinks Holly Cairns is “wonderful” but “unfortunately the Social Democrats don’t like us”. The parties’ values are aligned but the Social Democrats appear to be doing well “because they haven’t been in power”.

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