Analysis:Despite setbacks, the Labour Party's heart still beats, writes Stephen Collins, Political Editor
The mood at the Labour Party conference in Wexford at the weekend was surprisingly upbeat, considering the disappointing election result last May. There were lively debates on everything from the economy, the health service and social partnership to the adoption of The Red Flag as the party's new anthem.
While there was a lot of reflection on the future direction of the party, the failure to get into power after the general election did not appear to worry the delegates nearly as much as the disappointment of coming back to the 30th Dáil with one less seat than they had going out.
In fact, many delegates and some TDs agreed that the failure to get into government at this stage might be no bad thing, considering the storm clouds now gathering on the economy. There were few takers for the view that the party should have abandoned its election promise and done a deal with Fianna Fáil in the immediate aftermath of the count.
"Fianna Fáil managed to get away with conning people that the economy would only be safe in their hands, so let's see how they cope with the consequences of their own mismanagement," said one TD, who maintained that being in Opposition was a better place for the party to be in the current circumstances.
That mood clearly coloured the reaction to the fiery speech by the general president of Siptu, Jack O'Connor, who had advocated going into government with Fianna Fáil after the election. O'Connor spoke on Saturday of the danger to the future of social partnership posed by the increasing use of agency workers.
Fine, responded Westmeath TD Willie Penrose, the Labour Party would be putting forward a motion on the issue in the Dáil but, in return, it wanted to see a bit of loyalty from trade union leaders.
He pointedly said that some of those leaders should stop being so "palsy-walsy" with Bertie Ahern, doing deals with him when it suited them. Penrose brought the house down, receiving sustained applause from the floor. Eamon Gilmore reinforced the point yesterday by referring to the closeness between some union leaders and the Government.
Gilmore's first address as leader on Saturday night was a rallying call to a party beginning the rebuilding process, rather than a speech outlining new policy initiatives.
With a general election not likely for four years, at least, there was little point getting into the nitty-gritty of policy at this stage, so Gilmore's speech focused on first principles.
He pointed to the party's history of advocating what were once regarded as radical, progressive policies but are now accepted as the basic principles of a modern democratic society. "Many of those who pontificate now about Ireland's modernity were those who bitterly opposed each modernising step. It was Labour who gave women the right to the same pay for doing the same jobs as men; Labour which brought in the laws which protect our rights at work; Labour which introduced the legislation on equality, on standards in public life and freedom of information; Labour that freed separated people from the dogmas of the past and allowed them remarry if they so wish. It was Labour that made it legal to buy a packet of condoms."
Gilmore also turned to the history of Fianna Fáil, referring to the fact that the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, had ensured that Diarmuid Ferriter's new book about Éamon de Valera had been sent to every school in the country, at taxpayers' expense.
"I grew up in a house and family who respected de Valera, and I can tell the Minister a few things about history. Éamon de Valera would never have taken fistfuls of cash in a suitcase. Seán Lemass, if he had the money they now have, would never have tolerated the inefficiency and waste in the health service. And Jack Lynch would never have turned his back on Shannon.
"We have become a country on auto-pilot, with no clear idea as to where we are going. Drifting around in the present. With little sense of the future. Led by a Government, which is out of touch, overpaid, and cares only for their own survival."
It was the kind of stuff that got the delegates cheering in the aisles and helped to reinforce the good mood that had been evident during the day during a range of debates.
In those debates there was even a bit of the old spark that characterised Labour conferences in earlier decades with tight votes on important motions.
Adopting The Red Flag as the party anthem and retaining the phrase "democratic socialist" in the party's constitution rather than "social democrat" were a bit self-indulgent.
Still, the decision to wallow in a little emotionalism showed that the party's heart is still beating, despite recent setbacks.
Labour is the oldest party represented in the Dáil and its 100th anniversary is coming up in five years. It is certainly going to be around to celebrate, whether in or out of government.